Authors: The Horizon Social Club
Year: 2008
Event: 2008 TheMHS Awards
Subject:
Type of resource: TheMHS Awards
Award state: SA
Award level: Winner
Award category: Consumer Provided Services
Abstract: The Horizon Social Club is a weekend club run by volunteers who have experienced mental illness, based in the Northern Metropolitan Area in Adelaide S.A. Most members are aged between 18 and 65, tend to be living alone, with limited social supports and income to access activities. The Horizon Social Club provides fortnightly social and recreational activities that create opportunities for adults who experience mental illness and their families and carers to meet new people, develop supportive friendships, participate in and enjoy community activities. The Horizon Social Club is an outstanding example of volunteers who experience a mental illness helping others with similar experiences to maximise theirs and their families’ belonging and participation in the community. The benefits include; strengthening family relationships, promoting mental health, the friendships developed, mutual support and breaking down of stigma with the local community’s increasing awareness and participation in the Horizon Social Club. Description of Facility/Organisation: The Horizon Social Club is based in the Northern Metropolitan. The Northern Area is characterised as being a low socioeconomic area, where there is high unemployment, mostly public housing and is situated 25kms out of the city centre. The Horizon Social club is a not for profit organisation auspiced by the Lyell McEwin Regional Volunteer Association. It does not employ any staff and receives one day a week of in kind assistance for coordination from the state government mental health service. This in kind assistance includes skill development and practical support of committee members to successfully run their activities while maintaining their independence as a community organisation. The management committee members are all volunteers, they coordinate and run the fortnightly activities, fundraising, administration and promotion. There are 9 committee members who are voted on by the membership annually. The Horizon Social Club receives its funds through fundraising, grants and recognition awards. The membership is currently 80.
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