A local mental health service has invited residents to celebrate its third birthday at an event with a host of family activities this August.
On Friday, 19 August, from 12pm to 3pm, Central Lancashire Haven will offer a bake sale, raffle, face painting, an ice cream van, games, arts and crafts, a buffet, a popcorn stand, and more at its centre on Blanche St, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, PR2 2RL.
The Haven offers short-term mental health support for people aged 16+ and registered with a GP in the Preston, Chorley and South Ribble areas.
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Senior Practitioner Kennedy said: “I have been a staff member at the Haven since we opened in August 2019. It has been fantastic for me to see how well the service is doing.
“We have been able to support so many people with their mental health journey. Working here is very rewarding, and I love watching the team and the service users thrive.
“I’m very proud of what The Haven has become. I hope to see the Haven grow over the next few years, as we have many plans in the pipeline to become more community orientated and be a community hub.
“I hope hosting the community event for our third birthday will be an excellent way to introduce the community to our service.”
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The Haven recovery workers offer up to four therapeutic intervention sessions for mental health issues, aiming to provide people with the tools required to manage their mental health.
The group also runs several groups for socialising, expressing creativity or learning new skills.
Crisis Recovery Worker Paul said: “My favourite thing about working with the service users here at The Haven is to hear their stories.
“I enjoy listening to the journeys they have been on and how I get to be part of that journey. I also enjoy learning from service users – they often share new skills with me that they have previously learned.
“I can then share this skill with others, which is fantastic. As for the future of The Haven, I hope all staff and service users continue to enjoy their time here.”
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To self-refer, people can attend walk-in hours on weekdays, from 10am to 10pm, and 11am to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays (no appointment required).
Volunteer Arun said: “My favourite thing about volunteering at The Haven is to be a welcoming face to somebody coming in to start their recovery journey.
“I would like to see more males opening up about their mental health and utilising the service.
“I feel it would be great for men to be comfortable having an open conversation about their mental health and to reach out for support when needed.”
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To self refer by telephone, call 0330 0083672 on weekdays, between 10am to 10pm, and 11am to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays.
For more information, visit – https://www.richmondfellowship.org.uk/services/central-lancashire-haven/
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