Colebrook (South West) Ltd provide a range of outreach, housing and community based services promoting social inclusion and independence. They have delivered services for over 35 years to support mental health, learning disabilities and community cohesion in Plymouth.
One of their successful projects, Opportunity Knocks, is in its fourth year of funding and has delivered some great initiatives for local people aged between 18 and 95 or older.
They offer activities for those with long term health conditions or other difficulties that prevent them getting full time employment, as well as for family members who are acting as carers. Activities are well organised and fun and a great way of getting back into company if you’ve been isolated for a while.
The Timebank project means that anyone can get involved. A team of volunteer gardeners were able to transform one lady’s garden (as shown in the before and after pictures) who in turn was able to bake cakes for the gardeners.
The OK Growers also have a community allotment behind the William Sutton Memorial Hall in St Budeaux. They meet weekly on Monday mornings, 10.30am and Wednesday afternoons, 1pm. They are also working with Crownhill Library to create a community garden there and meet there on alternate Tuesdays from 2pm.
There is also a Timebanking Craft Group meeting at the Miles Mitchell Village Hall in Crownhill on Friday afternoons for those who have craft skills to share. One project was to ‘yarn bomb’ Smeaton’s Tower, just for fun, and then use the knitted squares to create blankets for dementia sufferers or individuals just needing a hug.
And there is a walking group to encourage people to get involved with exercise in a very gentle way. OK Walkers holds walks once a month with the next one meeting at Harewood House, Plympton on Tuesday November 20 at 11am
As many of the volunteers have additional needs, the Opportunity Knocks Project seeks to support them with advice and friendship as well as links to professional bodies.
The Mental Health Carers Group meets at the Miles Mitchell Hall on the second Thursday of the month at 10.30am and the fourth Tuesday at 6pm.
There is also an Ex Carers group for those who have previously been a carer and are no longer undertaking this role. They provide help with taking the next step, advice on benefits, emotional support and just meeting new people.
They meet at Devonport Library on the second Thursday of the month at 2.30pm and in the City Centre on the fourth Friday of the month at 10.30am.
In total, this very busy project runs 12 drop ins, including one specifically for diabetes sufferers for patients of the Beacon Medical Group.
For help with your garden or for more details please contact Helen on 01752 211243, email okproject@colebrooksw.org, or visit www.colebrooksw.org/timebank
