AAW Newsletter features The Corner House

AAW 6 Newsletter - which is published by Shoreham & District Mental Health Assocaition - has featured their move to The Corner House Resource Centre at 45 Southwick Street, Southwick.

Below are shown pages 1 and 4 of the newlstter.
To see (and read) the full issue, please see the AAW Issue 6 page.

AAW 6

On the move

This autumn, Shoreham and District Mental Health Association moved to new premises, after many years at The Old School House. It will be more than a change of address for the Association as The Corner House, its new home in Southwick, is much more than a day centre. In line with the new Government white paper on social inclusion, the emphasis is on recovery and empowering members to get involved in the local community, with a wider variety of activities available at the new Resource Centre, see the back page for more details.

AAW 6

The Corner House

The Shoreham and District Mental Health Association move to new premises took place during the summer, and was completed in stages. By the end of September, the old centre was vacated and The Corner House was up and running from 9 October.

The new site consists of three buildings, numbers 45,45a and 45b. 45b is the new Art rooms. It is a bungalow with a separate entrance and two rooms, around forty feet in size, with a kitchen area which will be used for art related processes. There are French windows into the garden. A kiln, which was donated from another centre, is in the cellar for firing pottery.

The Respite Ansas service (01273 871573) and Pathways to Work (01273 871574) are next door to the Art rooms, with a separate entrance. Next to them is the therapies room.

Number 45a, an annexe building, is joined on to number 45, the main building. The main building has an activities room for drama, yoga and sculpture, a computer room, and showers for use after exercise sessions.

We have recruited a sports and leisure worker to work 30 hours a week – twice a day, five days a week. The worker will help members to engage in activities at local sports and leisure centres.

In addition to the main kitchen there is a kitchen for members to develop their cooking skills in healthy living sessions. The members have their own private payphone and there are lockers available. As well as two quiet rooms, there are three large loft spaces which we may develop in the future.

Off-road car parking space is available, as well as a rack for ten bicycles. An outdoor shelter for smokers will be provided - the entire centre will be nonsmoking in line with the new legislation.

Steps along the way

21 July 2006

The Old School House closes on Fridays as the moving process begins.

4 August 2006

Target date for completion – whole site becomes available.

15 September 2006

The Old School House closes. There is no service for three weeks.

30 September 2006

Shoreham and District Mental Health Association vacates The Old School House and hands it back to Adur District Council.

9 October 2006

The Corner House opens during World Mental Health Week. Agencies are invited to visit the new Resource Centre. Members who attended in the past are invited to re-join.

Getting involved

After the move we will invite members to get involved on a planned basis. Pathways to Work clients on placements will be assisting with some of the minor building work required to meet health and safety requirements. Members will be helping with getting the garden ready, and its future maintenance.

The purchase of The Corner House has been funded by the Association's fundraising efforts, a grant from The Big Lottery Fund, and a mortgage. The Association will rely on donations for much of the furniture, white goods and gardening tools and equipment for the new centre. If you have items in good condition to donate, please contact us on 01273 871575.

Our new address

Shoreham and District Mental Health Association (SDMHA)
The Corner House Resource Centre
45 Southwick Street
Southwick
West Sussex
BN42 4TH

Phone: 01273 871575
Fax: 01273 871576

www.sdmha.co.uk

We welcome your views and comments on the articles in this newsletter and look forward to dialogue with readers over future issues.

Full details of AAW Issue 6

More pictures of The Corner House

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