AMH New Horizons opened in Foyle twenty years ago, and to celebrate this milestone, they threw a huge party and challenged everyone to take part in the AMH Firewalk! Local radio station Q105 broadcasted live from the event with some of our staff and clients being interviewed about the work of AMH. We also had live music, birds of prey, circus performers, and a BBQ! Happy Birthday AMH New Horizons Foyle!
All the photos from the day can be found on our Facebook page.
The Law Society of Northern Ireland are holding a Wine Tasting Evening in aid of the President’s Charity of the Year Action Mental Health, on Thursday 19th September 2013.
Hosted by Denis Broderick at Law Society House, Belfast, the evening will run from 5.15pm – 7.00pm allowing you to sample a range of internationally renowned wines presented by experts with complimentary cheeses.
This is a free event but donations are welcome.
To book your place(s) at this event please contact [email protected]
Places are limited so early booking is encouraged to avoid disappointment
This not-to-be-missed 55 mile, cycling sportive is supported by local cycling club, La Lanterne Rouge and Mourne Cycles. The Granite Challenge starts at AMH’s New Horizons unit in Downpatrick, cycling via Tyrella towards Dundrum, then along the coast road through the seaside town of Newcastle, towards Annalong.
Then it’s up into the Mourne Mountains, past Silent Valley. The climb up to Spelga will be rewarded at the top with tea and homemade traybakes. Then it’s downhill towards home, through Bryansford, Maghera and Clough.
Final destination Downpatrick, where a bowl of homemade broth awaits you!
You can register now for the event. Minimum entrance fee is £15 which includes a goody bag from Mourne Cycles, Tea Stop at Spelga and Lunch.
Register securely on line: www.amh.org.uk/fundraising-events/amh-granite-challenge/
All proceeds will go to Action Mental Health to help our support services and outreach work across Northern Ireland.
Staff and clients at AMH New Horizons Fermanagh were joined by Michelle Gildernew MP to celebrate a year of outstanding achievement.
Ms Gildernew said;
“Im delighted to be back in New Horizons and to see the fabulous achievements of the clients over the past year. I’ve always been impressed by the quality of work produced here , and it’s a pleasure to come back and to see the progression from year to year. Its important that we acknowledge that admitting we need help is a strength not a weakness, and the people who come here have demonstrated that strength, focus and determination . It’s very important that services like this are available to all of us when we need them and provide us with the tools to build confidence and resilience. It’s also great to catch up with staff , once again, who have provided support and training to more than 1,000 people in Fermanagh since the service opened in 1992.”
Ms Gildernew presented a staggering 327 certificates to clients who had been working on a range of accredited qualifications including a number of ECDL advanced qualifications.
She was presented with a framed image from the Sperrin Mountains taken by Ann Scobie, a member of the photography team in the centre as well as a spectacular bouquet of lilies, grown by the horticulture department in the on-site ploytunnels.
Martin Kearns was also recognized on the day for his outstanding contribution to the AMH sponsored walk held earlier in July. Martin’s amazing contribution of £750, added to the unit’s efforts, totalled an impressive £1,800.
Clients and staff would like to thank everyone who contributed to the fundraising event for this wonderful charity.
The man at the helm of our Foyle New Horizons unit is Service Manager Mickie Harkin, pictured here earlier this year with the now-famous ‘glass fiddle’ piece of art, crafted by AMH’s Billy Henderson.
This one off piece has generated a lot of discussion around the topic of recovery and the work of AMH during its travels. The case and stones take the form of the Giants Causeway, with concealed backlighting, and were made by clients attending AMH New Horizons Foyle.
The fiddle has already travelled to the seat of government, having been part of the art exhibition at Parliament Buildings, Stormont to mark Mental Health Week in May.
The fiddle then travelled back to Derry for the City of Culture 2013 celebrations and will proudly welcome visitors to the city at the Fleadh Cheoil centre office during the week of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 in August.
For 20 years now Action Mental Health (AMH) New Horizons has been helping clients recover from mental illness in the greater Derry area. The centre boosts personal development through vocational training, from crafts to IT, and the creation of career opportunities.
“Clients are referred to us through the community mental health team for various programmes. We’re talking about people who have mental health issues ranging from stress, anxiety and depression to more serious conditions like bi-polar and schizophrenia. Courses are run for up to 30 months and clients are then given employability options.”
And the imaginative creations of the craft and wood occupation workshops are particularly popular with the public, as Mr Harkin explains:
“We sell the bespoke items we make here and often people come and commission work. That gives clients a great sense of personal worth and enhanced self esteem.”
Whether it be finely crafted glass fiddles or made-to-order wishing wells or garden benches, customers can be sure of three things – that painstaking workmanship went into the crafting of the products; that the money raised goes back into running the essential service; and that the creation and sale of the items aided the personal development of the clients.
AMH New Horizons is a registered charity which helps people to overcome the effects of mental ill health and in many cases return to work.
It offers a range of recognised qualifications and provides training, personal development programmes and social and recreational activities.
For more information contact Mickie Harkin by email at [email protected] or by telephone on (028) 7137 3502
The Foyle unit is located at Unit 13 Springtown Industrial Estate, Springtown Road, Derry BT48 0LY
Yesterday, AMH were presented with a cheque from the Law Society of Northern Ireland at Law Society House in Belfast.
The Law Society raised £4,000 for Action Mental Health (the President’s nominated charity of the year), at their Golf Competition held at Warrenpoint Golf Club on Friday 31st May 2013.
Pictured at the cheque presentation is Rory McShane, Treasurer of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Callum Clark, events Fundraiser at AMH and Michael Robinson, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.
Sam Burnside, the author of The Cathedral (1989) a long poem that won the Sunday Tribune Hennessy Literary Award for Poetry, visited our Foyle unit to lend support to our “What’s Your Story?” project for City of Culture 2013.
Sam donated his book of poems titled “ New and Selected Poems” to be included in the “Culture Sofa”.
Sam Burnside was born in County Antrim and now lives in the city of Derry where he was involved in adult education before establishing and becoming first Director of the Verbal Arts Centre (1992 – 2003).
His work has attracted a number of literary prizes including an Allingham Poetry Prize, the University of Ulster’s McCrea Award for Literature and a Bass Ireland Award.
His poetry has been published and broadcast widely and he received an MBE in 2012 for services to the arts.
Allstate Northern Ireland develops and maintains the various technology platforms used within the US Global Insurance Giant Allstate, to support its day to day business, looking after the different systems it runs.
At the launch, AMH Works provided some Mental Health Awareness training including some advice on “Stress Busting” Techniques. Allstate staff were treated to some head and shoulder massage – provided by Zenbu Therapies – which can be one way of relieving the stresses of daily life!
AMH looks forward to planning further fundraising and awareness raising events with Allstate Northern Ireland.
