Gateway is about peer support

and solidarity...

What is Gateway?

Background

M E M B E R

C O M M E N T S

In Gateway, we are accepted for who we

are, what we are and

what we do

The group inspires me with confidence

and self belief

Gateway is somewhere to go

when life gets on top

of me

Its great to experience such

friendly people and

to interact with them in a relaxed

atmosphere

Its an optimistic place

Gateway is a member-led

social and peer support

community group for

people with self-experience

of mental ill health.

The project aims to support

the integration of people

into the social, cultural,

e d u c a t i o n a l a n d

commercial/working life of

the community. It works to

address the soc ia l

e x c l u s i o n a n d

disadvantage faced by

m a n y p e o p l e w i t h

experiences of mental ill

health and to promote

positive mental health.

Support

We provide a drop-in

centre where people call in

for a coffee, a chat and can

get involved with a range of

developmental, creative

and health promotional

activities as people wish.

Empowerment

from decision-making during

members meetings, to helping out with the day to

day running of the drop-in or

participating on the Advisory

Committee. We appreciate

and support members commitment.

Training Opportunities

We also provide periodic

opportunities for training

with a view to developing

skills and confidence among

members. Options are

varied and range from

personal development-type

courses (focusing on

wellbeing) to IT training

covering basic computer

skills, internet, blogging and

MS publisher courses.

We also provide links to

local training initiatives and

employment supports in the

community.

Members organise social

events and day trips, as

well as producing a monthly

newsletter for the project.

Our newest information

leaflet (ask at reception)

was recently designed and

produced by membership.

Participation

Members are encouraged

to get involved with their

project as much as possible

The Gateway Project opened in January 2004 as a pilot

initiative between the Rathmines Community Partnership

and Vergemount Mental Health Services. It is now an

established community resource and was highlighted as an

example of good practice in the recent National Economic

Social Forum Report on Mental Health and Social Inclusion.

The Project is supported by an Advisory Committee, including

representation from membership, the HSE (Mental Health

Services Vergemount and the Rehabilitation, Training and

Guidance Services), SHINE, Dublin City Council and the

Disability Federation of Ireland.

M E M B E R - L E D

E T H O S

Member involvement is

crucial to the long term

success of the project.

B U I L D I N G

C A P A C I T Y

Key to Gateway is

b u i l d i n g t h e

capacity of its

membership, by

e n c o u r a g i n g

participation in its

o n g o i n g

d e v e l o p m e n t ,

organisation and

delivery. Members

sit on the Gateway

Advisory Committee

and Project Team

and hold regular

meetings to discuss

programme and

p r o j e c t

development.

In fact, most of our

staff, such as our

Project Workers are

recru i ted , and

trained, from our

membership.

A S K R E C E P T I O N F O R

O U R I N F O L E A F L E T

C H E C K O U T O U R B L O G

www.projectgateway.blogspot.com

Gateway Project

Unit 1, 2 Parker Hill,

Rathmines,

Dublin 6

Community Development Worker

Fionn Fitzpatrick

Phone: 0857521220

Email: gatewaymentalhealthproject@gmail.com

Gateway Mental

Health Association