About Cambridge Clubhouse Cambridge Clubhouse is based on the Clubhouse Model for Recovery. The Cambridge Clubhouse was opened in 1995. It is opened six days a week and occasionally during the evening. Its membership is diverse. Many members of the Clubhouse have complex mental health problems but they also have a wide range of diverse talents and skills including artists, photographers, film makers, teachers, gardeners, dancers, they are also parents, carers, volunteers, and this list could go on... At present the active membership is 105, however membership is for life. Therefore our actual membership is approximately 250, with people using the Clubhouse as and when they need it. The pictures on this page were created by members of Cambridge Clubhouse.

What the Clubhouse does Focuses on members' strengths, talents and abilities, rather than on their illness, with the aim of developing the potential of each member. There is a Work Ordered Day: The structure of the Clubhouse provides meaningful work based activities as well as social activities. Through the context of the work ordered day, people can re-build their self-confidence, self-esteem and develop relationships.

At the Cambridge Clubhouse we have two units. The downstairs unit includes:

The kitchen, this provides a daily breakfast and a two course cooked lunch. We also have an allotment, where we grow our own vegetables, about five minute's walk from the Clubhouse.

Reception deals with the telephone, receiving incoming mail, greeting visitors and producing the clubhouse Newsletter. Members also give tours for potential members and other professionals.

The snack bar, which is a member run caf�, selling tea and coffee, a range of healthy snacks, fruit and the inevitable biscuits and chocolate.

The Smoking Room

In the upstairs unit: Administration deals with correspondence, petty cash, purchasing, collating statistics, I.T. ordering supplies and application of new members.

Staff and Member Relationships One of the things that makes the Clubhouse different is the relationship between the staff and members. Members and staff work together on a a day-to-day basis in order to make the Clubhouse run. There are no staff only or members only groups or rooms. Most important of all, no decisions are made without everyone's agreement. Decisions are reached by consensus. In accordance with the voluntary nature of the Clubhouse model, members choose the work they do, working alongside staff and each other, enabling an exchange of skills, providing each other with help and advice as necessary. This allows us to learn new skills and redevelop old ones. Life in the Clubhouse isn't always easy for members or staff. It can be demanding to say to least, we all have high expectations of one another. The realtionships we make are complex ones but the rewards can be, and usually are, immense.

How to join

1. Contact the Clubhouse to arrange a visit, at which you will be given a referral form. This is to ensure that people have some awareness of what and where they are applying.

2. Complete the referral form with your referrer. This is either a professional from the Community Mental Health Team (C.P.N., Social Worker) or your GP.

3. Once the Clubhouse has processed the form, we invite people to attend three days induction. This gives you the opportunity to take part in the Clubhouse work.

4. At the end of the induction, you and the Clubhouse community mutually decide membership.

Return to homepage