Recovery Groups
Recovery comes from more than just medication. People also need to rebuild lost skills and develop the self-esteem that will take them back to their communities determined to make the most of their lives.
The Friends of Valkenberg supports this recovery through a variety of volunteer-led projects aimed at building self-worth and independence.
Our activity groups teach patients life skills, encourage physical activity, and provide relief from the regular routine. Volunteers run cooking groups, arts & crafts sessions, sewing skills groups, dance classes, sports groups, and more.
Self-confidence and dignity are essential to recovery. That’s where our beauty therapy projects and self care groups come in. Patients can have their hair washed, cut, and styled free of charge at our hair salon or have a volunteer help them with make up or more basic self care skills. They enter our salon as regular patients and leave feeling beautiful and confident.
Our coffee trolley doesn’t only provide refreshments to outpatients at a nominal cost, it also provides a familiar face in the form of dedicated volunteers who engage with people over refreshments, supporting those who are continuing their recovery process in the community.
Our Friendly Shop sells everything from clothing to housewares at affordable prices, a service which patients and staff alike take advantage of regularly. The shop is an oasis where people can come for a break from the ward and practice the management of their limited finances.
Friends also sponsors departmental events. These events draw patients and their family members, and Friends provide refreshments, caps, T-shirts–whatever we can–to assist hospital staff to make the event memorable for patients and their loved ones.
Interested in helping us with these projects? Want to become a volunteer? Phone us, email us, or stop by our office. Our contact details can be found here.
