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We are a leading Scottish voluntary organisation working in the field of mental health. Founded in 1985, we provided the first registered mental health supported accommodation service in Scotland.
We now provide an extensive range of person-centred support services for adults and young people, supporting around 1000 people each week.
We campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues and reduce the social stigma attached to them. We also offer training and consultancy on a range of issues related to health and wellbeing.
L-R: Nigel Henderson, Mary Scanlon MSP, Stacey-Anne Miller, Fiona Gray and Jamie Hepburn MSP
Penumbra in Parliament to celebrate
30 years of making a positive difference
On 1 December over 140 people packed into the Scottish Parliament’s Garden Lobby to celebrate Penumbra’s 30 year anniversary.
Penumbra was founded in 1985 and set up Scotland’s first registered mental health supported accommodation service. We now provide recovery focused support for around 1000 adults and young people each week.
Scottish Government Minister for mental health Jamie Hepburn MSP, event sponsor Mary Scanlon MSP, and a selection of other MSPs joined people supported by Penumbra services, staff from across Scotland, donors and supporters to mark the 30 year milestone.
Penumbra peer workers Stacey-Anne Miller and Fiona Gray shared their emotional stories of mental illness and recovery at the event, highlighting to policy makers and supporters just how valuable lived experience can be when supporting someone struggling with their mental health.
The event also featured speeches from Jamie Hepburn MSP, who paid tribute to Penumbra and the important role played by third sector organisations in mental health care in Scotland, Mary Scanlon MSP and Penumbra Chief Executive Nigel Henderson, who summarised Penumbra’s 30 year journey and aspirations for the next 30 years.
The countdown to Christmas is on! It’s a time when we look forward to celebrating and being with family and friends. But imagine what it would feel like to be left out and excluded at this special time of the year. Unfortunately that’s how many people experiencing mental health problems see Christmas.
By making a donation this Christmas you will allow us to help young people and adults across Scotland who are experiencing mental ill health and who are excluded from family, home, work or community. We can offer them hope, the realisation that their mental illness is not who they are as a person and real chance of recovery.
“We are very grateful to all the team at Penumbra. Everyone is so wonderful and approachable and there is a person centred approach with tailored care. Staff always listen to your views and we worked with them to create a great level of care for our Mum. Thanks to you all, we very much appreciate everything you have done for our Mum.”
Relatives of guest at Penumbra Milestone
Donate online or text PENU30 and the amount you’d like to donate to 70070 eg PENU30 £10.
Penumbra will receive 100% of your donation, which will be charged to your phone bill with your normal network charge. Don’t forget to select Gift Aid if you’re eligible.
Christmas comes early for Aberdeen short breaks service as Inspectors commend excellent care
An Aberdeen short break service which provides guesthouse style accommodation for people with mental health problems has been recognised for its outstanding care.
A report published this month by the Care Inspectorate - the independent body responsible for monitoring care services in Scotland – gave top marks to the service on Ellon Road in Aberdeen.
The Inspectorate made a routine unannounced visit to Penumbra Short Breaks in November to assess the support, staffing and management at the service.
Run by mental health charity Penumbra, Ellon Road received “Excellent” grades in all inspection criteria.
The outstanding report means Ellon Road becomes the fourth Penumbra service in Aberdeen to have achieved top grades in all inspection categories. Ellon Road is also one of only two Adult Care Home Services for people with mental health problems in the City to achieved top grades, the other being Penumbra’s Rosemount Terrace service.
The Care Inspectorate report said:
“The service had a highly motivated team, who demonstrated a caring attitude and a commitment to the recovery process.”
Penumbra’s Papermill Gardens Supported Living Service, Aberdeen Nova Project and Rosemount Terrace Supported Accommodation Service have also received excellent grades from the Care Inspectorate in there most recent inspections.
Penumbra work with Forestry Commission in Angus to promote good mental health
Penumbra has been working with the Forestry Commission and Angus Council Ranger Service to deliver a 12 week outdoor activities programme focused on promoting positive mental health.
The programme equips participants with outdoors skills and knowledge as part of the John Muir Award, which aims to encourage people to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places.
Research has long shown a positive link between outdoor activity and good mental health. Access to sunlight and green open spaces can increase self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety. This project has also helped people with mental health problems to learn new skills and meet new people, decreasing social isolation.
“We girls have found our wee adventures to Crombie give life a bit more hope and meaning. They refresh the will to keep going and an opportunity to discover what we can actually achieve. It is a valuable distraction from difficulties, complexities and all the terrifying going-ons: REALITY. It’s a chance to speak to others who understand, do not judge, share ideas, knowledge and inspiration. It also lifts the darkness a little, so we can see and appreciate the simple joys and beauty in nature in all its determination despite all.”
Jenny & Lisa, who completed the Award
Over the 12 week programme two Rangers from Crombie Country Park have introduced participants to fly fishing, falconry, outdoor cooking, tai chi and environmental art. To support the project the Volunteer Centre also kindly offered free minibus travel to and from the programme’s rural location so people could attend the weekly sessions.
12 supported people completed the Award, which concluded with a BBQ and a slideshow of photographs taken throughout the 12 week programme. An independent ‘Angus Explorers’ group has even been set up by participants to look into the next John Muir Award - The Explorer It Award - which encourages people to research and explore a wild area.
Self harm service secures funding for next three years
In October 2015 Penumbra successfully retendered for the contract to run the Aberdeen self harm service, securing funding to continue delivering self harm support in the city for the next three years.
The service is currently recruiting for a self harm recovery worker and hopes to distribute “Working with Self Harm” toolkits to secondary schools in Aberdeen City next year. There are also plans to develop a Self Harm Parent Information Pack and offer more group working opportunities within the service, which will complement existing 1:1 support.
Following feedback from people supported through the service, self harm specific POWWOWs (Penumbra Workshops on Wellbeing) and WRAP workshops will also be developed and more social activities will be offered. The service plans to consult further in the future.
Cheryl Thomson, Assistant Support Manager, said:
“It is really important to us that supported people are at the centre of any future developments to their service and we look forward to engaging in more group working and focus committees to ensure that this is the case.”
The Short Breaks Service at Ellon Road in Aberdeen runs a number of specialist weeks throughout the year aimed at guests with an interest in a particular activity.
Some of the events planned for 2016 are new, and some are tried and tested ones that have been running for a number of years. Referrals are available through Self Directed Support (SDS).
Look good/feel good - w/c 22/02/2016 & w/c 24/10/2016
Arts and crafts - w/c 21/03/2016
Healthy eating/menus of the world - w/c 25/04/2016
Men’s health and exercise - w/c 23/05/2016
Young people’s week (under 40 years old) - w/c 27/06/2016
Culture Week - w/c 25/07/2016
Hillwalking/first aid - w/c 22/08/2016
Home management/domestic skills - w/c 26/09/2016
Look good/feel good - w/c 24/10/2016
Christmas arts and crafts - w/c 28/11/2016
To find out more about these activity weeks call Ellon Road on 01224 703 273.
