SUPPORT THROUGH SOCIALISATION AT THE HUB
A cosy and welcoming environment with a homely feel awaits those at The Hub in Fermoy, which is preparing to open towards the end of the month.
Located on Brian Boru Square, signage over the door has been intriguing passers-by for some time and now the facility, which has Cork Mental Health Foundation (CMHF) and Kilworth local Kevin McCormack at the helm, is about to get up and running.
“The Hub is here to serve all adults who strive to take the best possible care of their mental health. It’s especially here for those who find it a struggle to do so,” Kevin explained.
Stemming from similar initiatives that CMHF run in Clonakilty, Bandon and Cork City, Mr McCormack explained that the facility is to be a social space which will help promote and support positive mental health. After sitting down with Brendan McCarthy, CEO of Cork Mental Health Foundation in January, the idea grew legs and has snowballed from there.
“It’s progressed a lot quicker than we both expected,” Brendan said, “but it’s fantastic that it has. It’s a credit to Kevin and his initiative being able to find a space, identify it and go from there.”
Set up to serve the community of Fermoy and beyond, The Hub will operate on a membership basis, which is free, inviting all adults aged over 18 years who wish to take the best possible care of their mental health in a supportive environment. Prospective members do not have to have a diagnosis or be clients of a mental health service.
Operating as a social space, it will be a non-therapeutic service run by volunteers, proactive in supporting people through socialisation, by offering support and acceptance in a non-judgemental environment.
“GOODWILL”
Since announcing the opening of the new facility, Kevin noted that support has been ‘ fantastic’.
“We’ve had some furniture donated, the table, and the armchairs all came from the Aurora shop in Mallow which is a second-hand shop that is owned and run by Cork Mental Health Foundation. It was great to be able to have one part of the organisation benefitting something that was happening with another part of it. It was kind of an internal synergy which was lovely.
“I’ve had lots of bits and pieces donated as well from individuals and through the power of social media. There is an awful lot of goodwill towards what we are aiming to do here and it’s fair to say that there is a lot of goodwill in the community towards Cork Mental Health Foundation anyway,” he said.
Locally, CMHF has been supported through Flag Days in the area and other fundraisers, such as a tractor and truck run organised by Darragh Roche from Kilworth and the Christmas Lights fundraiser arranged by Kilworth’s Shane Slattery.
“We’re lucky that in Fermoy we have our own branch of Cork Mental Health Foundation. They’re able to direct the money that is raised in the locality back into the area, so that funds that are raised would go towards subsidising low-cost counselling for people from the area.
“The very exciting thing about having The Hub here is this is something that is very tangible. This is something that is now a physical space that people can come and use. It’s a testament to the generosity of the people in the area. It’s because of their support for Cork Mental Health Foundation that Cork Mental Health Foundation are in a position to create this space in the town,” Kevin added.
Plans are already at play for the future of the facility, with talks of workshops and courses, as well as extended opening hours. It is also hoped that more volunteers will come on board and the facility may develop over time.
“Really, it’s about being proactive in terms of good self-care. Everything comes back at the end of the day to good mental health. Truthfully, because it is volunteer-led and a volunteer-run initiative, the more volunteers that we have on board, the more options we can give to people who would like to use the space,” Kevin said.
GIVING BACK
According to Mr McCarthy, The Hub will open on Friday, April 28 from 7pm until 9pm and is initially expected to open Fridays and Saturdays, with further and extended opening hours expected.
“Cork Mental Health has invested a lot in this and Kevin has invested so much of his own time and effort. We wouldn’t do that if we thought it was something that was only going to be here for a short time. We’ve also had so much support from the people of Fermoy and Mitchesltown over the years. It’s our way of Cork Mental Health giving back to the local community and showing our appreciation for the assistance we have had with our local committee, that has worked really hard over the years fundraising and doing lots of different things,” he said.
“Fundraisers which have taken place in recent years have helped us hugely and it’s a way for us to give back to the community by providing something longterm here that is visible and that people can see. That’s something we are delighted to be able to do”.
When asked what his vision for the new Fermoy-based space is, Kevin said: “The vision really is that people will come, relax, enjoy it, have their cup of tea, game of cards, a bit of a chat and whatever else, but doing so knowing that they are in a safe, supportive and non-judgmental environment.
“I think it’s good as well to point out, I have been asked ‘Do you have to have a diagnosis to come here’ - absolutely not at all. I had people ask me ‘Is it strictly for service users?’ - absolutely not at all. Anybody can come here. The truth of it is that mental ill health is a very isolating experience for an awful lot of people. It would be good for them to come and use the space and socialise. That works the other way around as well, that people who find themselves to be isolated do end up having difficulties with depression or anxiety because of their isolation.
“It’s a space that is open to anybody with any neuro-divergence that makes it difficult for them to socialise in what would be considered as ‘normal socialisation’,” Kevin said.
PEER SUPPORT
In the interest of keeping people safe and supported, those interested in volunteering or becoming a member are advised to contact Kevin at (083) 4728957.
“We appreciate that for an awful lot of people to come cold into a social space can be a challenge. Anybody who is interested in joining, I can meet them here in the space one-toone initially. It means that when they come on their first social evening, they’ve already been in the space and they know somebody in there. It makes it easier for them to come in. The space is a little bit familiar and they already know somebody that is here,” Kevin said.
According to Brendan, by visiting The Hub and becoming a member, people can form relationships and contacts with others, thereby developing a system in which peers support peers.
“Contact is everything,” Kevin said, “I firmly believe that 100% the best thing you can present to any human being in any kind of difficulty is another human being. We’re very excited about The Hub”.
“I think what we all want from this is that it’s there, it grows and that it continues and will be there to serve for years and years to come. That’s the ambition really”.