What is a Clubhouse?
A Clubhouse is first and foremost a local community center that offers individuals with mental illness hope and opportunities to achieve their full potential. Much more than simply a program or social service, a Clubhouse is most importantly a community of people who are working together to achieve a common goal.
A Clubhouse is a community intentionally organized to support individuals living with the effects of mental illness. Through participation in a Clubhouse, people are given the opportunities to rejoin the worlds of friendships, family, important work, education, and to access the services and supports they may individually need. A Clubhouse is a restorative environment for people who have had their lives drastically disrupted, and need the support of others who believe that recovery from mental illness is possible for all.
Membership
A Clubhouse is a membership organization, and the people who come and participate in a Clubhouse are its members. Membership in a Clubhouse is open to anyone who has a history of mental illness. This idea of membership is fundamental to the Clubhouse concept: being a member of an organization means that an individual has both shared ownership and shared responsibility for the success of that organization. To be a member of an organization means to belong, to fit in somewhere, and to have a place where one is always welcome. In a Clubhouse, each member is given the message that he or she is welcome, wanted, needed and expected each day. The message that each member’s involvement is an important contribution to the community is a message that is communicated throughout the Clubhouse day.
Meaningful Relationships
Relationships between members and staff develop naturally as they work together side by side to carry out the daily duties of the Clubhouse. All of the staff have generalist roles in the Clubhouse; they are involved in all of the Clubhouse activities including the daily work duties, the evening social and recreational programs, the employment programs, outreach, supported education and community support responsibilities. Members and staff share the responsibility for the successful operation of the Clubhouse. Working closely together each day members and staff learn of each others’ strengths, talents and abilities. They also develop real and lasting friendships. Because the design of a Clubhouse is much like a typical work or business environment, relationships develop in much the same way.
WORK ORDERED DAY
The daily activity of a Clubhouse is organized around a structured system known as the work-ordered day. The work-ordered day parallels the typical business hours of the working community where the Clubhouse is located. Members and staff work side by side, as colleagues, to perform the work that is important to their community.
Work Units – Where Members and Staff Partnerships Grow
A key part of Clubhouse Gibraltar is Member / Staff Partnerships. Members and staff work together in all aspects of the clubhouse. The work-ordered day at Clubhouse Gibraltar is split into three work units that members can choose to become involved in.
Business & Administration
Reception duties, Orientation, Reach Out, Database input, Newsletter, Adm. Work, Education and MHFA courses, Accounts and Social Media.
Hospitality
Kitchen, Cafeteria, Menu Planning & Shopping and Domestic Tasks.
Charity shop
Customer Service, stock management and monitoring sales.
Meetings open to all Members and staff
Policy Meetings, Program Meetings, Young Adult Meetings, Transitional Employment Meetings, Social Event Meetings Health and Wellness and more.
EMPLOYMENT
Clubhouse employment programs are some of the most successful vocational rehabilitation programs in today’s community mental health systems. Employment continues to be a high priority for people living with serious mental illness: their unemployment rate is generally over 80%. The Employment Program covers our Transitional Employment Placements (TEPs), Supported Employment and Independent Employment support.
Transitional Employment (TEP)
Transitional Employment (TEP) is a highly structured program for members returning to work in a local business and industry . Transitional employment is specifically designed as a vocational rehabilitation program where a member can gain or re-gain the skills and confidence necessary to have a job while employed in a ‘real world’ position. Placements are at the employer’s place of business are part-time (15-20 hours per week). In TEP, the Clubhouse develops and maintains a relationship with the employer and provides onsite training and support with backup coverage during periods of member absence. Members receive a wage at or above the national minimum wage. Clubhouse Gibraltar staff provide training, support, and absentee cover on all positions. No formal interview is required, only their willing to work and be part of the WOD. Members can then try another placement or move to independent employment.
Supported Employment
Supported Employment positions are not time limited and may be full or part-time. In SE, the clubhouse maintains a relationship with the employer and member, assists with job site development and training. The clubhouse does not provide absence coverage.
Independent Employment
Independent Employment is a program of the Clubhouse through which members when ready, are given help from the Clubhouse to apply for and obtain a job of their own. The Clubhouse provides ongoing support and encouragement for members who are independently employed.
SOCIAL PROGRAM
The Clubhouse has recreational and social activities during the evenings and on weekends.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
They include helping with entitlements, housing and advocacy, promoting healthy lifestyles, as well as assistance in accepting quality medical, psychological, pharmacological and substance abuse services in the community.
REACH OUT
The Clubhouse provides an effective reach out system to members who are not attending, becoming isolated in the community or hospitalised.
EDUCATION
The Education Program at Clubhouse Gibraltar strives to assist members in meeting their individual educational goals. We currently provide support to members undertaking courses at Gibraltar College and encourage our members to apply for courses and gain meaningful education as part of their personal career development if they wish to do so, also offering in-house support and educational activities and training.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Clubhouse Gibraltar has health and wellness policy which includes healthy eating and exercise and related activities.
HOUSING
Clubhouse supports its members in a wide variety of housing issues. This involves their living conditions, assistance in following up enquiries and liaison with the Housing Department.
CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES
Clubhouse Gibraltar offer several free activities outside of the work-ordered day to promote health, wellness and personal development:
YOUNG ADULTS PROGRAM: THE HIVE
Clubhouse Gibraltar have developed a Young Adults Program to meet the needs of our younger members. The group is growing steadily and organises many social trips and age-specific support in both employment & education.
If you are a young adult with a mental health diagnosis, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone (20068423) or email (admin@clubhousegibraltar.com) for more information and support.
OPEN DOOR
Open Door is available to the Gibraltar community, working with people who may have questions in regard to their mental wellbeing. Clubhouse has qualified staff who can offer one-to-one support. It offers support and advice to help adults improve their wellbeing and reduce the mental and emotional stress in their life through one to one support.
Drop-in Sessions
Monday Drop-in: 11:00am to 1:00pm.
MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
We deliver Mental Health training for companies and organizations.
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Courses, one course for those supporting
- Adults and another course for those supporting Youth.
MHFA is an internationally recognized training course, designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental illness and provide help on a first aid basis.
mentalhealthfirstaid@clubhousegibraltar.com
https://mhfaengland.org/
