I started working at Mosaic as a support worker in 2002. I loved the ethos, which is to treat people as people and that the mental health diagnoses is just a part of the whole person. Mosaic works with people’s gifts and talents and recognises everybody has a purpose in life.

I soon realised how much talent there was in the clubhouse community. How members worked together to support each other. An example of this would be meeting to accompany each other to appointments where there was anxiety.

Because of the clubhouse ethos, we were invited to lead a project in the rehabilitation ward in Lambeth hospital. The difference with this project was it involved both clubhouse members and staff. We were encouraged to attend the hospital once a day to firstly get to know the patients and secondly, to help patients who probably wouldn’t leave the ward for various reasons, to take part in the activities of the clubhouse, as well as in the community.

The best outcome for patients was when they left hospital they would be able to access mainstream activities in the community, such as libraries, parks and restaurants.

We have been involved with the hospital in-reach programme for more than four years and I have seen some amazing changes in patients. I remember one patient who wasn’t very vocal in the beginning, but over time they developed confidence and shared his love for the arts; we were able to visit an art galleryas one of our activities. This person had a wealth of knowledge about art and shared so much information with us. I had never seen him talk so much.When he left hospital he was able to start coming to Mosaic and has since moved on to doing a job placement.

Photo: Matthew