Alex started with AMH New Horizons in Antrim in 2017 participating in the EVOLVE project, which focuses on working with 18 – 25 year olds and developing their social and personal development.
At the beginning of 2018, Alex felt ready to move on to new challenges and focus on his employability. He completed several accredited courses – ECDL in IT, OCN Employability and began an NVQ in Business Administration.
Working on Reception in AMH New Horizons also helped boost his confidence as did a placement with the Initiative project based in AMH.
This year he enrolled and successfully completed a further education course at Belfast Met and with the support of the AMH Employment Officers, began a placement in the Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast.
The Fitzwilliam picks up the story –
Alex has been a delight to have working with us. This was something very new for the Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast, and at the beginning of the process we were unsure if it would work for both us and the volunteer. With the assistance of AMH New Horizons, Alex was placed within our Beverage Department working alongside one of our Supervisors. Alex has put hard work and determination into his placement and has now successfully moved into paid work within our Food Services team. We are delighted with how far he has come and look forward to seeing what he can achieve in the future within the team here at the Fitzwilliam.
Congratulations to Alex – we wish him all the best! The Fitzwilliam is a 5 star luxury hotel in the heart of Belfast City Centre. It has recently been named Hotel of the Year (Northern Ireland) 2019-20. Alex took part in the Working It Out project at AMH NEw Horizons Antrim. The project is part-funded through the NI European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
Action Mental Health were raising awareness among fans at the Belfast Giants game against Manchester Storm on Sunday. Alongside the Odyssey Trust we also produced a short film and commissioned special Belfast Giants warm up jerseys that were worn by the team over the weekend.
Action Mental Health has worked with staff at the Odyssey, including the Belfast Giants and W5 educators, to promote the 5 steps to wellbeing.
Belfast Giants Coach Adam Keefe said, “It is really
important for players, staff and fans to look after their mental health and
speak out if they have any concerns.”
Wendy Langham, Head of Social Affairs Odyssey Trust said,
“Thanks to all the staff at Odyssey for working together to support Action
Mental Health to change the lives of those living with mental ill health and
promote resilience and well-being to future generations.”
David Babington, Chief Executive of Action Mental Health
said, “We are extremely pleased that the Odyssey Trust has chosen to focus on
and support mental health and well-being, and thank them for helping us to
raise much needed funds and awareness, tackling stigma and promoting positive
mental health”.
Staff and clients from AMH New Horizons Ards were also treated to VIP treatment as special guests at the game on Sunday. Thanks to those who collected for us and manned our information stand!
Action Mental Health’s Promote
service for adult with learning disabilities is throwing open its door for a
special Open Night.
AMH Promote is a place where
clients get a taste of independent living among their peers and where they are
encouraged to be socially active in a supportive environment.
Prospective clients and
their families will get the chance to get a glimpse into Promote during a
special Open Night event on Tuesday, October 22 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, at the
service located at 6 Enterprise Road, Bangor.
There will be a welcome talk at 7pm, with the
event posing a great opportunity for prospective new clients and their families
and carers to come and have a look around the purpose-built centre, chat with staff
and clients, and see all that is on offer.
AMH Promote benefits not
only the clients, but also impacts their carers who glean confidence that their
loved ones are in a place dedicated to providing them the best outlet for their
many strengths and talents.
One carer recently went on
social media to vocalise her appreciation. “As a mum of a client who attends
AMH Promote, I strongly recommend this place for anyone who is looking for
something like this in the future. Fabulous! Go and see it for yourself! Such a
happy gang.”
AMH Promote gives clients a new focus in life, encouraging
them to participate in a host of activities and events from library visits,
sports tournaments, horticulture and cookery, to arts and crafts and drama –
including regular performances on stage loved by clients, staff, friends and
family.
Promote also hosts regular coffee mornings on the last
Thursday of the month. The next one takes place on Thursday, October 31, with
the final one of 2019 taking place on November 28, when Christmas crafts,
shortbread and planting bulbs and other items will be on sale.
The Department of Health’s proposed 5-year Mental Health
Action Plan will come under the spotlight during a special series of consultation
workshops.
The Patient and Client Council is hosting the workshops in
partnership with Action Mental Health, Inspire and the Department of Health,
giving the public the chance to discuss the shape of Northern Ireland’s mental
health services.
The workshops, taking place in Belfast, Derry-Londonderry and
Dungannon, will offer service users, clients, carers and other stakeholders the
opportunity to learn more about how the plan is developing and will give people
the chance to have their say on the emerging themes and areas of focus.
The workshops take place on Monday
21st October 2019, from 10am-1pm at
City Hotel, Queen’s Quay,
Londonderry, BT48 7AS; on Thursday 24th
October 2019, 10am-1pm at The Junction, 12 Beechvalley Way, Dunngannon, BT70 1BS;
and on Friday 25th October
2019, from 1pm – 4pm at Inspire
Wellbeing, Lombard House, 10-20 Lombard St, Belfast BT1 1QA..
My name is Colin. I
was first introduced to AMH in 2016 due to suffering from depression…
Colin is pictured in the middle with Stephanie AMH Employment Officer and Keith AMH Skills Coach – Horticulture
Let me tell you a little about me…… I was a married man with 4 children and
worked in various catering roles as a chef.
I worked endless hours to provide for my family. My marriage however ended and I found myself having to rebuild my
life. I continued to work as a chef and
found my life starting to improve.
In 2016 a tragedy struck my family when I lost my brother
to suicide. This caused a major set back
for me in terms of my mental health. I
struggled to come to terms with this and found myself feeling angry with life
in general. I found myself unemployed
and alone and falling deeper into depression.
On one of my many visits to my GP, the subject of Action Mental Health was raised. I was reluctant to go as this meant I had to admit to having a mental health problem. I was met by Joanna (Client Development Co-ordinator – AMH New Horizons Downpatrick) who made me feel welcome and introduced me to all the staff members. I remember going to the garden centre and spoke with Keith and thought “I could do this”.
Before I knew it I was attending AMH garden centre 3 days per week. I found that it was very beneficial as I was able to work on my own (if I wanted), I was getting fresh air and also learning new skills as well as meeting new people. I also engaged in the WRAP programme, First Aid, ECDL basics and finally NVQ Level 1 Horticulture.
In 2018 I had another set back as I suffered a heart
attack. After a few months I returned to
AMH who were supportive in helping me get my routine and structure back on
track.
In 2019 I decided that I would like to return to
catering. I found a job in Tels Coffee
Shop which was close to home. I enjoy
going to work each day and I work with a fantastic team of people. Stephanie the Employment Officer continued to
support me to help me settle in until I found my confidence again. I found this support to be beneficial and
comforting knowing I had help when I needed it.
So to sum it all up…. I was in a storm and Action Mental Health was the port which sheltered me. The staff were amazing and always took the time to speak to you. AMH give me a sense of security and I enjoyed attending week to week. A great bunch of people who will go over and beyond to help you in any way. I truly believe “AMH saved my life”.
Thanks to Colin for sharing his story. Colin took part in the Working it Out Project with is part-funded by the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
As the dust settles on another successful World Mental Health
Day 2019 , New Horizons Downpatrick would like to say a public thank you to all
those who took part in a variety of events hosted to shine a light on mental
health.
The annual event – which takes place each year on October 10 –
focused on suicide prevention for 2019 and to mark the day, the Downpatrick
service took the opportunity to host a health promotion fair.
Against the backdrop of a purple-lit leisure centre, many
other local groups and individuals took great lengths to help make the fair a
success, according to New Horizons Downpatrick Service Manager Joanne Stroud.
“I have so many people to thank,” she said, paying tribute to
all those assisted to create a memorable day.
Joanne singled out a number of people, including Linda Owens,
from Asda community, for supplying healthy snacks and allowing AMH the space to
host its information stand in the Downpatrick branch of the store during the
afternoon of WMHD 2019.
Joanne also named others who volunteered to make it a day to
be proud of.
“We had a number of people who gave up their free time. Catherine, Sport Therapist from Peak
condition, who gave advice on injuries, aches and pains; Steve for sharing with
us his amazing performance skills; Tropic consultant, Mary Jane for giving
complimentary hand massages using gorgeous greener and healthier products; and
Aisling for providing Indian head massage tasters.
Joanne further expressed gratitude to Julie and Susan from NISSA,
who joined New Horizons Downpatrick with a pop-up stand, outlining some of the
services provided by the local Jobs and Benefits office.
“We had a gratitude
tree for everyone to list what they are grateful for and positivity pouches to
hand out on the day. Finally, a big thanks to Newry Mourne and Down council
member, Deputy Chair Terry Andrews who called to show his support and to the
council for lighting the local Leisure centre purple to mark WMHD.”
Staff and clients from Downpatrick all helped with preparation, provided music and activities on the day, making it a resounding success and one not to be forgotten.
The AMH New Horizons activities the client participates in are operated through the “Working it Out” project, which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.
The global spotlight shone on mental health this week as a
diverse series of events all over the world culminated on World Mental Health
Day, on Thursday, October 10.
Close to home, Action Mental Health was delighted to see so
many supporters #GoPurple to help fundraise for the charity to help secure the
future of AMH’s recovery and resilience services for people of all ages across
Northern Ireland.
Companies, community groups and a diverse array of
individuals held events and went on social media to share the #GoPurple message
championed by AMH.
The night sky on WMHD was imbued with purple light illuminating some of Northern Ireland’s iconic buildings and local monuments. From Derry and Strabane Council Buildings and the city’s Playhouse, to Ards and Fermanagh Town Halls, Enniskillen Castle, Bangor’s McKee Clock, the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh and Downpatrick Leisure Centre. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn also went purple, as did the Titanic Hotel Belfast and Newry Town Hall.
AMH corporate partner, Danske Bank, which has raised many
thousands of pounds for the charity over the past two years, illuminated its
head office at Donegall Square West and its branches at University Road,
Belfast, as well as in Shipquay Street, Derry-Londonderry and in Newry.
Employees also spent the day fundraising for AMH at its various offices and
staff rooms.
Corporate partner MKB Law turned varying shades of purple for
the day, while Grant Thornton legal firm, which shares Danske’s Donegall Square
West building, also tweeted its support of the #GoPurple message.
Other bodies which got behind the spirit of WMHD included the
Mental Health Congress PPR, and The Consumer Council which hosted a ‘Make It
Fake It Bake It’ sale for WMHD, raising funds for AMH.
In Newry, the annual WMHD Big Breakfast was joined by a
number of local authority members and business interests, from Danske Bank, Murdock
Group and PKF FPM business advisors, to Autoline, Haldane Fisher, and
Saica Pack.
Patrons at Belfast’s historic Sunflower Pub took a lighter
view of WMHD with an hilarious comedy night in aid of AMH, while at the same
time in south Belfast, members of the construction industry also went purple in
the Construction Excellence Awards at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Ramada Hotel.
A variety of events were also hosted at numerous schools
around Northern Ireland to mark WMHD. At Ballymacash Primary School in Lisburn,
each class participated in an activity which highlighted the importance of
mental health, while at Knockevin Special School, Downpatrick they were
practicing the FiveWays to Well-being.
Events were also staged at St. Colum’s Primary, Portstewart, Royal
School, Dungannon, New Row Primary School in Castledawson, and Phoenix
Integrated Primary and Nursery School in Cookstown
AMH Works took the message of WMHD to Kainos’ Birmingham while
closer to home Allstate also got its staff in on the WMHD act.
Edge Innovate in Tyrone and Harbinson Mulholland embraced the #GoPurple day with cake sales and similar events.
JP Corry in Enniskillen and Newry had in-store information stands for their customers (primarily men working in the construction industry), a really important initiative – knocking down barriers and enabling a meaningful conversation about mental health!
Warrenpoint FC showed its support WMHD in aid of AMH,
reminding fans on its Twitter feed that #ItsOkNotToBeOk, while Girlguiding Ulster
marked the day by signing up to AMH mental health awareness training.
Supported Employment Solutions used the platform of WMHD to
launch a new well-being room, The Tranquility Room in Belfast’s Lanyon Place.
AMH would like to say a great big thank you to everyone single one of you who took the #GoPurple message to heart, fundraising and embracing the true spirit of WMHD!
Art is one of the many activities enjoyed at Action Mental Health’s New Horizons services dotted around Northern Ireland. So, to help mark World Mental Health Day today, the diverse work of artists both amateur and professional, takes centre stage.
Clients at Antrim New Horizons are presenting their ‘Art of Recovery’ exhibition at Clotworthy House, Antrim until October 27.
Meanwhile, in Newtownards, artist Brian Kielt presents his one man show ‘Bardo: An Unknown Country’ at the Georgian Gallery, Ards Art Centre until October 26. His exhibition is being staged in aid of Action Mental Health.
A Manifold and Truly Glorious Strife by Brian Kielt
