Gateway Mental Health Project has been supported by the
Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership (RPCP) for over 10 years to provide a vital community mental health resource and drop in centre in Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Unfortunately RPCP is no longer able to host Gateway because the programme that funded many of its projects (the Local Community Development Programme) is closing on the 13th May next month. This news came as a real blow to the local community and RPCP, Gateway, our members, staff and all the other projects supported by RPCP in the community. Gateway is moving on...
New Home Needed...
As a result of these developments, we needed to investigate options to find a new host organisation for Gateway. Gateway's Advisory Committee and our current funders explored all the options available to make an informed decision in the best interests of the project for the future. We were fortunate that ongoing supportive relationships with
Shine and
Mental Health Ireland meant that Gateway had options to consider, unlike other community groups facing closure.
Funders and the Gateway Advisory Committee agreed that Mental Health Ireland offered the best overall option and structure for Gateway to slot into, although additional funding and resources still need to be found to cover the shortfall resulting from the loss of RPCP's support. Gateway's Advisory Committee submitted an application to Mental Health Ireland to establish Gateway as a Mental Health Association. Although Mental Health Ireland are not in a position to fund Gateway, they can support us to legally administer the funding we already have so that we can continue our work for positive mental health locally. Mental Health Ireland have also made a firm commitment to supporting Gateway's development goals and independence for the future, giving us time and support to establish Gateway as an independent organisation and charity.
Gateway Mental Health Association
Gateway's application was formally accepted by Mental Health Ireland's Board last month which was great news as this means we have a new host organisation in place until we are in a position to strike out on our own. As a Mental Health Association, Gateway will receive legal, financial and HR administration and can operate without interference with guidance and governance from our own Advisory group and Management Committee, similar to other projects they support such as
Aras Follain - an excellent peer support centre in Tipperary.
Funding Our Future
We will also need to find the additional funding needed for the project to maintain our activities as a result of losing one of our core funders in RPCP. We are working hard to raise awareness of Gateway and the very necessary work we do and are meeting with supportive officials from the HSE and Department of Health to explore our sustainability for the future.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Gateway will be legally transferring to Mental Health Ireland from 1st July 2015 which is bittersweet news for us on many levels. Although we are delighted and relieved to welcome our new host on board, we will need to say sad farewells to RPCP and the wonderful staff that have given us so much support to develop over the years. As a result of these changes Gateway will also say another farewell to one of our Development Workers, Martha Griffin who has helped to grow the project over the past 7 years. We hope members and supporters can join us for the Big Thank You Party in Parker Hill next month Thursday 7th May from 1pm for a much needed community gathering.
Gateway has developed into a vibrant, hopeful, inclusive mental health community as a result of the leadership of members, staff and the combined collaborative efforts of Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership, the Health Service Executive, Shine, City of Dublin Education and Training Board, Dublin City Council, Mental Health Reform, Mental Health Ireland, Disability Federation Ireland.
Sorry for any disruption in the meantime!
We ask for your patience during these challenging times. We will need time to re-organise ourselves as a project and staff team. There is much to do from the management side and lots of practical issues to overcome in preparation for the transfer so please bear with us. The drop in centre will also need to close for a few afternoons in early June to give staff time to re-organise the premises, equipment, materials and allow us to get some planning done for the next few months. We are proposing that drop in is supported to take place in the community on those days (4th, 8th and 11th May 1-5pm in Cafe Moda, Rathmines).
Thank you to all and look forward to a new chapter of continued growth and wellbeing into the future!
If any member needs more information, please feel free to drop into Gateway in Parker Hill on Monday and Thursday afternoons (from 1-5pm) and speak to any of the Gateway Team in person over a cuppa or call the Gateway mobile on 085 7521220 during office hours.
For information queries from all others, please email our admin support worker John Murray john@rpcp,ie or Fionn on fionn@rpcp.ie.
