FROM OUR MEMBERS
We exist for those who need support, safety and social connections. We are proud to have made a positive and enriching impact in many of our members’ lives. Every day, we strive to improve the quality of life, and quality of daily experience for each of our members. We aim to help more and more in the future as our organisation grows.
“‘I think this is one of the best, friendliest projects in London. There’s such a nice vibe down here. It’s relaxed, you can all do your own thing, there’s no trouble and the staff are brilliant’”
“‘No one is left to cope alone. We are like a little society between ourselves; we know everyone is watching out for each other’”
“‘It keeps me away from trouble. Where I live a lot of people drink all day and take drugs and I’m trying to stay away from all that. It helps to be here.’”
“‘It gets me out of bed in the morning. It gets me out. It breaks the day up. A lot of people use this place for years and rely on it a lot’”
OUR MOTIVATORS
Please note: the following are composite stories created from situations which are similar to or have occurred to our members. We have changed places, names and contexts in order to protect privacy and confidentiality
“My name is Abby.”
Abby was living in the female restroom in Heathrow Airport until aggressive behaviour caused her to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act. After treatment at a psychiatric institute, she was released and brought to 240Project by her community nurse.
Initially, Abby behaved in a hostile, unfriendly manner to project workers and members. She felt she was being constantly followed by unpleasant people and her personal space being invaded. This created some friction with other project members, but she was able to begin to relax when she joined the Yoga and CBH groups, and recognize and put some distance between herself and her negative thoughts about others. Abby soon realised that we were there to help her, and gradually began to trust project staff, volunteers and other members, and became a part of the 240Project community. This gave her a social life, and the beginnings of new friendships.
For a period her mental health improved significantly but then she was moved out of supported housing into a bed-sit and was unable to cope with the strain of bills, responsibilities and isolation. She returned to the streets, stopped attending the project and we learned that she had been arrested and sentenced to six months for attacking someone she thought was following her.
On her release she told a probation officer about the project, and was encouraged to begin attending again. On her return Abby appeared detached and found it harder to re-establish meaningful relationships. It seemed as if her ability to trust people had been seriously damaged once again.
We had been running an animation video group and Abby told a story based on events that had happened to her which was accepted and filmed. She also joined the Feltwork group and it was soon clear that she had a talent for it and her confidence slowly began to return. Then she returned to CBH, and after a difficult start where she felt over-exposed and vulnerable, she was encouraged to persevere and eventually began to make good progress in learning to be more sociable and trusting. This second period at the project was successful, and after eighteen months she had become fully fledged and productive member once again. Then she began to see herself in a more positive light, and recognize that she had qualities she could share with others. She started volunteering at a local over 60s club, and now has a part time job working behind the food counter. She currently is stable and has a supportive network around her. She still comes to the project to attend CBH groups and finds this important to her stability.
“My name is Bick”
Bick was a fierce social activist and class-a drug abuser for over thirty years. Suffering from blackouts and episodes of amnesia after a period of hospitalisation, bick’s personal relationships deteriorated and his self-confidence plunged. during his downward spiral, a friend brought him to 240project to introduce him to a supportive community.
At first, Bick seemed to be very interested in the music group, though reluctant to take part. He would listen from behind a glass partition, and sometimes play the guitar, but always a different tune, presumably to establish his independence from the group. Through a shared interest in the guitar he eventually built up a connection with one of the members of staff. He began confiding in the staff member while composing a song, and in the process had an emotional collapse.
It became clear that Bick was beginning to get into a desperate position and over the next few weeks he was encouraged to attend The Blenheim Project, a local drug service with access to Detox and Rehabilitation facilities. Some people are dubious about the success of rehab after Detox, and this is partly due to the lack of outside or after-care support once they have left. Surprisingly, Rehab worked well for Bick the first time, and he was able to sustain a drug free life for over six months. Then he relapsed, but the blackouts returned and he entered Detox for a second time and third time.
Throughout this period the project had been involved, supporting him emotionally, and trying to build his self acceptance and ownership of his issues. He continued to attend the project, write songs and take one-on-one sessions with the project’s Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapist, which he had initially been reluctant to get involved in. But in fact, over time he got a lot from these sessions, and his confidence in the project grew considerably. He found the emotional support he was getting to be valuable.
Bick has been clean for over 2 years after this last rehab. This last time, he took the talking therapy part of it seriously, accepted that he had issues, and allowed the drug therapist the space to help him work on them. He began participating in the Leatherwork group, and this has been a big success. He exhibited some of his leatherwork, belts and bracelets at the Projects last art show, and he is now planning to set up a stall in Portobello Market.