The Arbours, 20 + Years

For the Arbours the past five years have seen a period of consolidation as well as careful expansion of our activities. Our long-stay communities are now registered as hostels, which means our basic facilities are reasonably secure and that we are able to accept people as residents regardless of means.

During this time an important event that brought together the residents of the communities and Crisis Centre was an exhibition of Arbours Art that took place at the Smith Gallery in Covent Garden last autumn. This was the culmination of several years of effort by the residents and Julia Saltiel, the Arbours art therapist. But perhaps ‘art therapy’ connotes something too precise and limiting. The work was not done as therapy per se but as a creative development in the lives of everyone involved. The exhibition included paintings, drawings, sculpture, fashion and photography, much done to the highest standards.

At the Crisis Centre we have completed an attic extension, which has allowed us to open a sixth guest bedroom and a second consultation room. I would like to extend special thanks to the Planned Environment Therapy Trust for financial help with this project. We have also been refining our capacity to support the many chaotic and severely damaged individuals and families who are referred to us by reducing the turnover of the key helpers at the Centre. Towards this end we are now able to accept suitable candidates at any time by creating the post of sponsored applicant. Having been accepted as a sponsored applicant, the individual joins our training programme, begins to be involved with the work of the Centre and receives a small bursary. Then when an opening is available he or she can move into the Centre and avoid the long process of familiarisation that would otherwise be necessary.

Similarly our training programme is doing well. We have an increasing number of candidates and have continued to expand our links with other training organisations. I think that it is w