gateshead clubhouse · worcester green gateshead, tyne & wear ne8 1nh ... clubhouse has become...
TRANSCRIPT
Gateshead Clubhouse Business Plan 2018-2023
Worcester Green
Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
NE8 1NH
REGISTERED CHARITY N UMBER: 1160853
2
CONTENTS
1 Gateshead Clubhouse: Key Organisational Details .............................................................................................. 3
2 Introduction: by the chair of gateshead clubhouse ............................................................................................. 4
3 Gateshead Clubhouse: Background ..................................................................................................................... 6
4 Where we are now .............................................................................................................................................. 7
5 Clubhouse Milestones ......................................................................................................................................... 8
6 Mission, Values & Guiding Principles ................................................................................................................... 9
Our mission statement: ...................................................................................................................................... 9
6.1 The service we provide the community has two core principles: .................................................................. 10
Membership involvement: ............................................................................................................................... 10
Personal development: ..................................................................................................................................... 10
7 Premises & Location .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Opening Times: ................................................................................................................................................. 10
8 Gateshead Clubhouse: Outcomes ..................................................................................................................... 11
Qualitative outcomes: ...................................................................................................................................... 11
9 Products and Services ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Social & Learning Activities: .............................................................................................................................. 11
Room Hire: ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Café and Outside Catering: ............................................................................................................................... 12
Promotion & Marketing .................................................................................................................................... 12
10 Market Research: SWOT Analysis. ................................................................................................................... 14
11 Stakeholders .................................................................................................................................................... 15
12 Developing a Funding Strategy ........................................................................................................................ 16
13 Key Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 16
14 Financial Forecasting & Budgets ...................................................................................................................... 18
3
1 GATESHEAD CLUBHOUSE: KEY ORGANISATIONAL DETAILS
Name: Gateshead Clubhouse
Address: Gateshead Clubhouse
Worcester Green
Gateshead
Tyne & Wear
NE8 1NH
Telephone: 0191 440 9033
Website Address: www.gatesheadclubhouse.com
Email: [email protected]
Legal Status: Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Charity Number: 1160853
4
Trustees: Anthony Johnson (Chair)
Teresa Morley (Treasurer)
Alan Jeavons
David Walton (Secretary)
Paul Gwynn
Stephen Bell
Mark Richardson
Pauline Hawkins
Jeffrey Harris
Elaine Allen
2 INTRODUCTION: BY THE CHAIR OF GATESHEAD CLUBHOUSE
We believe that Gateshead Clubhouse can truly be described as a unique and
inspirational model of operation. It is an entirely peer-led project, with no paid
workers. Within a relatively short space of time we believe that Gateshead
Clubhouse has become an extremely valuable and well-managed resource and can
be broadly described as having three main strands to the way it operates:
(1) The daily management of the Clubhouse
(2) groups & activities
(3) external activities
Through our experience of successfully developing the clubhouse, we are proud to
say that we have created an organisational model that could be replicated elsewhere
and be of great benefit to other mental health communities. In these times of
austerity and the acute lack of mental health services, organisations such as ours
could provide a valuable contribution to help to alleviate the unmet needs of mental
health service users across the country. Around the United Kingdom there are
buildings suitable for organisations similar to ours which could be utilised for a
fraction of the cost of a staffed service.
In terms of the Clubhouse Model that we have developed in the local mental health
community, it would be useful to see an independent evaluation carried out which
would include publicising the positive outcomes not only for our Members, but for
Member Representatives and our Trustees.
5
In general, aspirations are set very high with regards to developing a business plan;
however, given the fact that we are all people who have mental health problems, we
think it better to grow our services at a steady pace.
Our Main Aspirations are:
1. To continue to develop our role as a mental health community resource,
which has access to and links with other services in Gateshead
2. To continue to provide and enhance our community cafe and room hire
functions.
3. To continue as a staff free service and enhance our multi-stranded approach
to groups & activities (see below)
4. To look into accessing statutory funding and light touch monitoring.
5. To further provide training courses for our member reps & Trustees in dealing
with problems and to promote team building.
6. Further development of Gateshead Clubhouse model of working
7. Further development of monitoring to chart and further demonstrate the
impact of this way of working on individuals
8. To further promote widely with a view to being piloted elsewhere
All of the above will ensure that the service does not stagnate or become
institutionalised.
Anthony Johnson (Chair of Gateshead Clubhouse)
6
3 GATESHEAD CLUBHOUSE: BACKGROUND
The Constituted body of Gateshead Clubhouse was established in 2008. Founder
members worked closely with Gateshead Council (Adult Social Care and Economic
Development Service) to establish the Clubhouse at the former Worcester Green
Day Centre in 2010, with grant support from the Big Lottery and also The Reaching
Communities Fund. In the initial years, we procured the services of Mental Health
Concern to act as a host organisation, using the funds we secured from the Big
Lottery. In 2014, members decided to end this partnership, in order to run the
Clubhouse directly. We formed a registered charity (Charitable Incorporated
Organisation) in March 2015.
We established the Clubhouse against a backdrop of government cuts, mounting
needs, growing social isolation, an increase of people being discharged from
secondary care and the closure of a Local Authority Mental Health Day Centre.
When we formed the organisation, we recognised a need for members to take
ownership of services to ensure that we had greater choice in what we provided
leading to an improvement in personal empowerment.
The Clubhouse operates as a community centre for people with mental health
problems who live in the Borough of Gateshead. It is a user-led organisation run
entirely by our members, all of whom are involved in all aspects of the organisation,
from governance and operations to designing and running activities.
As a registered charity (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) the Clubhouse legally
requires a board of elected Trustees to oversee the charity. The Clubhouse currently
has ten trustees who ensure compliance with the regulations of Charity Law.
Ten Member Representatives support the day to day delivery of our service and
provide a direct link between members and the Board of Trustees, with several
Trustees being both a Member Representatives and a Trustee. A range of sub
committees and sub groups have been established to support a wide range of
functions including – a Finance and Funding Group, a Health and Safety, and a
Member Representative’s Group.
As a building-based service, we provide open-access to all of our members who are
encouraged to engage in organised activities, social groups and the wider life of the
service with peer support.
7
4 WHERE WE ARE NOW
We offer a safe space in which members can be themselves and enjoy a social life
alongside various projects and activities. Our experience is that participation reduces
isolation from the wider community and improves mental health. We currently have a
thriving membership of 434 members.
Social activities lie at the heart of the Clubhouse, in the context of the safe and
relaxed environment it provides for members with opportunities to socialise on a
daily basis; and, in the way that they provide an important safety-net for members.
This has created a genuinely inclusive community which embraces people who have
experienced the corrosive effects of social-exclusion and a myriad of other negative
life experiences that have contributed to or have amplified their mental health
problems. We have quite a range of activities for members to choose from, these
include: -
Cooking skills: including training for members in health & safety, food hygiene,
safeguarding and other skills. Not only does the cafe provide nutritious meals for
its members, it is also able to generate further income through the sale of a wide
range of baked foods that are produced in-house.
Courses run in conjunction with Gateshead Council Adults Learning, these
include arts and crafts, cooking.
Strong links have been forged with Tyneside Recovery College (ReCoCo) where
members often attend courses at ReCoCo, or at the times they are facilitated by
ReCoCo at Gateshead Clubhouse e.g. WRAP.
The continuous development of creative and artistic skills, including singing,
dancing, poetry, block printing, glass and clay designing, painting, song-writing,
drama, comedy, mask painting etc.
Digital Life Skills / IT and media awareness courses.
In collaboration with Media Savvy: digital skills courses.
Our local history studies project: members of the Clubhouse have worked
extensively with Tyne and Wear Museums (TWAM) on the co-production of local
history sessions which take place in local museums and at key historical sites
across Gateshead. This work has included the production of an animation, under
the tutelage of a professional media teacher; this was subsequently shown to the
public at an official launch event the Shipley art gallery. Building on the success
of these projects, Gateshead Clubhouse has now forged links with the
Gateshead Library service with members recently forming their own history
group, developing further new activities, in collaboration with staff at Gateshead
Library.
8
A wide range of Health and well-being course, including Mindfulness.
In conjunction with the Gateshead Housing Company: on-going mental health,
diabetes and other health related awareness sessions.
Seasonal group activities: these have included trips to various places around the
region and elsewhere in the UK.
Several other groups have become established, based on the interests shown by
Clubhouse members, including Clubhouse Chronicles, these involve capturing
the views and rich life experiences of Clubhouse members. Various publications,
videos and website articles are planned.
In addition, various external activities are organised by the Clubhouse reps, often
in collaboration with cross-sector organisations. These include outdoor fitness
and well-being based pursuits e.g. gardening, walking, football and cycling. There
are also regular trips to various geographical locations, local, regional and
elsewhere e.g. Bill Quay Farm, Alnwick, Kendal & Bowness, Saltburn, Keswick
and the North Lakes, Bury Market, York, Harrogate and Edinburgh.
5 CLUBHOUSE MILESTONES
2008 Constituted
group formed
2009 Worcester Green Day
centre taken on at
peppercorn rent
2009 renovations funded by Gateshead
Council (£80k) and PCT (£10k)
2010 £230k Big lottery funding /
MHC appointed as
managing agent / host organisation
2014 Ended partnership with MHC
2014 Oct becomes members'
run
2015 registered as a charitable
incorporated organisation
2016 – 35 year lease obtained
(peppercorn rent)
Community asset
transfer from Gateshead
Council
2018 –(Where we are now) Current
membership at 434– Track
record proving a peer led
service works
9
6 Mission, Values & Guiding Principles
We have developed and adopted a mission statement which underpins the ethos,
values, aspirations and principles by which our services are delivered (see below)
and guides our aspiration to become recognised as a hub for the community of
people using mental health services in Gateshead Borough, renowned for our
diversity and the high quality and choice of the services we provide.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
Our mission statement is built on the recognition of a core set of values which
include:
Gateshead Clubhouse aims to provide a service where people with mental
health needs can access facilities in a supportive and safe environment -
where the processes of recovery and self-growth can be assisted through
the ownership of and involvement in its services. We will build on the
existing skills and abilities of our members, providing opportunities for
education, training and work, promoting individual empowerment and
peer support.
10
6.1 THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY HAS TWO CORE PRINCIPLES:
MEMBERSHIP INVOLVEMENT:
Members are at the heart of our service and are involved in all aspects of our
organisation, including its strategic and operational management. This approach is
unique and it encourages members to use their experience to develop the services
we offer.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Members are encouraged and supported to develop themselves and others through
a wide range of courses and activities. We believe that social interaction and
participation in activities improves confidence and self-esteem.
7 PREMISES & LOCATION
The Clubhouse is located within the former Worcester Green Day Centre in
Bensham, Central Gateshead, set in a quiet residential area, within a short walk from
Gateshead Town Centre and public transport interchange, making the premises
easy to get to. The building is on the ground level and is accessible to everyone
The building is leased from Gateshead Council at a peppercorn rent, on a 35-year
lease. It initially refurbished with the support of grants from Gateshead Council, the
Primary Care Trust and Gateshead Housing Company. Since then we have
enhanced capacity & tailored the clubhouse to the service’s needs, based on careful
attention to the growing needs of our members.
OPENING TIMES:
The Clubhouse is open 11am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday. There are also often
additional activities / groups starting before 11am. As a user-led organisation,
Member Representatives have supported the opening of the Clubhouse since 2016,
running the building without any paid workers. Because of this we have been open
every single week day of the year (minus New Year’s Day), thanks to our dedicated
member reps.
‘Mental Health Matters’ currently runs an Out of Hours service from the Clubhouse
on a Thursday evening and at the weekend. We work closely with MHM, as many of
our members use both services. This also enables the building to be open 7 days a
week.
11
8 GATESHEAD CLUBHOUSE: OUTCOMES
We support members on their own terms and deliver a wide range of health and
well-being outcomes connected to social inclusion and community participation. Both
quantitative & qualitative data is collected, but we recognise we need to expand our
qualitative data collection.
QUALITATIVE OUTCOMES :
• The appreciation of peer support
• Improved health and emotional well-being
• Increased confidence and self esteem
• An improved quality of life
• Making a positive contribution to the community
• Increased choice and control of our facilities and the activities we offer
• An improvement of the experience of feeling valued
• Acknowledgement of the Clubhouse as a place of safety – a sanctuary
9 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
We deliver a range of products and services, which contribute to the finances of our
organisation.
These include:
SOCIAL & LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
All the activities and services we provide are identified, developed, directed and are
often delivered by our members. We provide a wide range of opportunities to just
drop-in and relax and to take part in member led activities such as providing peer
support, Ladies Friendship Group, Men’s Group and a ‘Hearing Voices’ Group.
We also provide opportunities to work with tutors, such as in guided mindfulness
practice, arts and crafts, photography and computer skills, which are offered
regularly in response to our member’s expressed needs and interests. Indeed, some
members have told us that they would like us to run accredited courses leading to
qualifications.
12
More importantly many friendships are developed and members are encouraged to
socialise outside the Clubhouse by arranging shopping trips, social outings and trips
or short breaks away. Whenever possible, funding is secured to deliver activities free
of charge, (for example working with Adult Learning to secure funded courses),
however we charge for trips and outings to recoup costs.
To generate income alongside making applications for charitable donations or
funding, we are looking into the possibility of accessing personal budgets and social
prescribing in the future.
ROOM HIRE:
This is a popular venue and its flexibility means that we can hire rooms out to other
organisations for meetings, or to deliver courses, thus providing an income stream -
our clients have included Gateshead Council, Help for Heroes, Mental Health Trust,
Health Champions, User Voice Gateshead and North East Together.
CAFÉ AND OUTSIDE CATERING:
The Clubhouse contains a small Community Café which is entirely run by our
members. It offers home-made food at affordable prices, catering for a wide range
of dietary requirements; we actively encourage healthy eating, socialising and
sharing meals with friends.
Contract catering is also offered, providing buffets for up to 150 people and providing
hospitality for customers booking rooms.
The café turns over £300 per week with a profit margin of 100%.
PROMOTION & MARKETING
The Clubhouse has a low cost but effective marketing and promotions strategy. This
targets marketing efforts to referral organisations and individuals with mental health
support needs.
Word of Mouth: Our most powerful source of marketing is by word of mouth. This
engages mental health professionals and GP’s amongst others and potential
members directly. This form of marketing has enabled us to engage with “hard to
reach communities”.
Printed & Electronic Literature: A range of leaflets and posters are produced in-
house and they are distributed through a wide network of GP surgeries, secondary
services, housing projects and other voluntary and community organisations.
Online: Our dedicated website www.gatesheadclubhouse.com provides members
with up-to- date timetables and further information on groups and activities,
alongside membership forms and yearly AGM reports that are all available to
13
download. We also have a presence on social media using Facebook and Twitter,
and an active page on the Gateshead MBC website ‘Our Gateshead’.
Face to Face: Face to face marketing and promotion to mental health professionals
and other referral partners are a great way to raise awareness of the Clubhouse and
maintain an open dialogue. Gateshead Clubhouse has an open-door policy to
encourage drop-in visits from professionals, to help them to understand and
experience the uniqueness of the service.
14
10 MARKET RESEARCH: SWOT ANALYSIS.
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Member-led service
Team working approach to managing and operating the Clubhouse
Flexibility of service
Responsive to need
People at the heart
People feel part of a community – part of something good
Sense of belonging
Informality – no onerous monitoring, no strict eligibility criteria
Understanding of needs
Provides a space to be yourself
Strong peer support - by helping others we are helping ourselves
Long term financial situation – low reserves
Fluctuations in health of key people
Some skills gaps
Fluctuations of user led activities
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
Learning and development opportunities and courses
Self-growth & recovery opportunities e.g. mindfulness
Collaborating with others to deliver services (e.g. public sector other Voluntary and Community organisations
Awareness raising of the service and mental health in general
Exploring opportunities
Support others to develop services - Inspiration / Replication
Financial uncertainty in the long term
15
11 STAKEHOLDERS
16
12 DEVELOPING A FUNDING STRATEGY
Running Costs require £15,000 per year from external funders, the rest we are able
to generate on our own from café sales and room hire, with sustainability in mind.
Our running costs are £39,000 per annum, our membership is increasing (as noted
earlier we have 434 members); and, to give an idea of how busy we are: in March
2015 the total amount of visits by members was 600, with our busiest days seeing 50
members or more.
Nevertheless, we still need to make applications to local authorities and other
funding bodies to provide extra finance for on-going costs such as fuel and other
utilities. Our efforts will always be to recover full costs for the services we provide
wherever possible.
We see grant giving trusts as being one of our main avenues of funding; but, hope
that in the future, through social prescriptions, direct payments / individual budgets
and statutory funding we can consolidate our position.
13 KEY SUMMARY
The way that Gateshead Clubhouse has been developed clearly demonstrates
that it is possible to create a well-functioning and self-sustaining mental health
community model, based on peer support and a common-sense approach. It is
probably unique in the way it operates.
The practical nature of the model has also been shown to be relatively simple to
sustain financially.
The way that Gateshead Clubhouse is managed and run is a very different
dynamic to that of a staffed service. It puts the interests of its members at the
centre of everything it does and values common sense. It is based on a non-
hierarchical structural approach.
The Clubhouse provides a safety net for the most vulnerable people who have
often had harsh lives and experienced severe levels of social isolation. If the
clubhouse was not there, many of its members have said they would have
nowhere to go except to look at their own 4 walls or spend their time looking
around shops because they had no one to talk to.
The Clubhouse provides an antidote to the institutionalism and stagnation which
often exists in other building-based mental health community services
The concerted cultivation of our members’ individual empowerment and
responsibility has led to a significant increase in positive mental health and well-
being, especially among member reps who actively help to keep the Clubhouse
17
going. As a result of this we actively avoid any build-up of misunderstandings and
interpersonal conflict that might occur between members.
Members are encouraged to participate in activities at a pace that can be
customised to suit their own way of working, individual preferences and
differences.
The Clubhouse ethos overcomes all barriers associated with age, gender,
ethnicity, mental and physical impairments.
Comradeship and friendships organically develop among people who have
previously had significant difficulties in making and sustaining friendships.
The Clubhouse has developed an impressive foundational ethos of peer support
which ensures that there is always someone prepared to help if someone is ill
and no one person is taking on all the pressure. For example, with regards to the
kitchen the aforementioned ‘cafe light’ fall back system.
Overall, there is a fundamental ethos of encouraging members to try out new
activities and skills, often by trial and error; and, emphasising the fact that it is OK
to make a mistake as long as lessons are learned along the way.
18
14 FINANCIAL FORECASTING & BUDGETS
Income and Expenditure Budget 2018 – 2019