Rachel Walker (Blackburn Manager)
An exciting and busy year at Witton Bank, the building itself has undergone some major refurbishment now with a new roof in situ, the outside repainted and the complete overhaul and redesign of the kitchen and pantry area. We are slowly giving the rest of the inside of the building a face lift, adding a splash of colour throughout, we have received a very generous donation from Herbert Parkinson in the way of fabric and with the aid of volunteers of a sewing club will be having new curtains throughout.
Across the organisation we have enjoyed two separate trips to Cumbria staying in a bunk barn on the side of Derwent Water and a stately home in Keswick, bringing together service users from Salford, Wigan, Preston and Blackburn. All the residents came together enjoying the great outdoors, walking, cycling & boating, the evenings spent all enjoying a feast and playing games and karaoke.
We have enjoyed many a moving moment, having brought in graduations for our resident’s completing the programme at Witton Bank prior to moving on to either our Stage 2 accommodation or moving home. Family and friends are invited to this event with laughter, tears, song, tea and cake all being part of this celebration.
The residents of Witton have commenced art therapy sessions at energy zone; we are looking to fill our walls with budding Picasso’s over the next few months!
We have been a strong member of the football recovery league at Blackburn Rovers. Unfortunately this year we didn’t receive a trophy, that is definitely a goal for 2014!
The recovery community within THOMAS is amazing, peer mentorship and volunteering at its highest we have seen, there is an immense cohesion between the residents in primary treatment at Witton Bank and the guys down in Stage 2, supporting each other emotionally and spiritually as well as enjoying recreation time together. We plan to enjoy time together as a team in the forthcoming months with another camping trip or two.
The Princes Trust supported us in doing extensive work on the grounds, painting, planting and developing a circuit area / basket ball area for the residents, the deputy Mayor in attendance at the grand opening and for the celebratory buffet the residents of Witton put on for the Princes Trust team as a way of thank you for all their hard work.
