MENTAL health organisation The Hut provides meaningful activity for up to 100 people with mental health problems in York and could save local authorities up to £2million a year. But it is struggling for funding and is appealing to local people to each donate a sum to keep it going. Kate Liptrot reports.

IN a sunny room overlooking Clarence Gardens, plans are being made for the New Year.

Tseren Gibbons, the activities coordinator at The Hut , wants to run a session on how members can make the best possible start in January.

The issue strikes a chord with Tseren who has struggled with severe depression and used to be fearful of what each New Year would hold for her.

But she is excited about the possibilities 2015 bring as she said her life has been changed by the help she has received at The Hut, a place for people with enduring mental health issues and learning disabilities.

Be it through painting or playing music or leading classes and volunteering, The Hut works on the basis that people can feel better, or become ready to work again through taking part in purposeful activity. It can be a lifeline for some. As the wellbeing of those who join the group significantly improves, the chance of them becoming more unwell is reduced.

Tseren's volunteering work has helped her gain valuable work experience and to land a new job after two years without employment.

"Because I had been out of work for such a long time I was getting the interviews but not the jobs," Tseren said, "By September I had almost given up on getting a job, I was starting to slip back into depression."

But then a contact put her in touch with Rachel Barber, manager at The Hut, who has a track record in helping people in similar positions back in to work.

"I got the chance to volunteer and got the employment support," Tseren said, "Rachel was able to see why I wasn't in work and she gave me tips and advice for interviews.

" I know that 2015 is going to be a good year for me, where I will begin to feel settled. I’m really looking forward to coming off benefits and to work in a role where I’m going to love."

Now Tseren, who has previously worked as a mental health support worker, has landed a job with a partner organisation and will continue to help at The Hut.

She has since been given the huge challenge of launching a crowdfunding bid to raise £15,000 by the end of December to keep the organisation going but if they don't reach the target, they do not get to keep any of the money pledged.

The Hut does not receive funding from any statutory bodies in York even though it has calculated it saves them up to £2million a year through its work with people with conditions including depression and agoraphobia. They have helped people from going back into costly hospital stays, back into the justice system and into work.

Twelve members have found work with the help of The Hut over the last year.

For Rachel, the outlook for people that attend The Hut is very different. Some people won't always make progression but their quality of life can be improved and others can take on volunteering responsibility to move into work.

"The work we do is very valuable in terms of peer support," she said, "In order for people to recover they need to take responsibility for themselves. Also, if you take responsibility to lead sessions you need to think about others, its gets them out of the box of receiving services.

"It's a local charity and mental health is grossly underfunded. One in four people will experience mental health problems in their lifetime and it's really important we provide people with some help. So often people hear negative stories about the support available to people with mental health issues but this is about hope."

- To donate to The Hut visit http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-huts-creative-and-supportive-projects


'They gave me confidence'

"They gave me the confidence to go back to work" - a mum-of-two* who had not worked for five years explains how The Hut helped her find a new job

"In February 2013 I became a single mum of two children. This I could manage, what terrified me, was how I was going to provide for us, after nearly five years as a stay-at-home mum. To complicate things further my youngest son has autism, and I had to balance my children's needs with getting back to work. I had lots of previous experience in social care, but it felt like a life time ago. My confidence was at an all time low, I had little belief in myself.

"At a 'back to work' interview at my local job centre, it was suggested that I consider voluntary work, as a way to update my CV and crucially find someone who could vouch for me now as a referee. I'd read an article in The York Press about The Hut, I took a deep breath and called.

"I'm so very glad I did, I started as a volunteer in July 2013, and although nervous and a bit clumsy at first, within a few weeks I realised I could do it, I enjoyed it, and I was good at it.

"My role was to support members to get involved in various workshops, craft, photography and music, and hopefully feel included.

"The manager at The Hut offered on-going support, advice and guidance and she even did a mock interview with me, when I applied for a part time paid job.

"I am now a proud working mum of two, who plans to further her career. I am so grateful to all at The Hut, for seeing my potential, and offering the support I needed to re build my confidence, and help me get back to work."

*Name withheld to protect identity