A Safe Haven

Their aim is to improve clients’ ability to understand and manage the complex emotional, physical and practical effects of illness. They offer a drop-in service with access to a specialist nurse, complementary therapies, counselling, peer support groups, informal support from volunteers and children’s play therapy. The service has five staff members, 15 sessional therapists and 50 volunteers.

The Haven is one of the few organisations of this kind dealing with illnesses other than cancer.  Since their launch in 2001 they have had many MS clients because there is little support for MS elsewhere in the area.  They accept self-referred patients, although many patients are also referred by the primary care sector.  Because the Haven isn't a statutory service they can be responsive and act quickly.  Importantly, they continue to offer support to families if their loved one dies, which means that no-one is suddenly excluded from the Haven's services.

The centre is immediately welcoming – the mixture of cosy home furniture, a fireplace and mantelpiece in the ‘living room’ make this a good place to spend time in.  There’s the same attention to homeliness in all the therapy rooms.

 One user with MS comments 'going to The Haven is more like going to see friends rather than using a service. I don’t have to talk about my condition if I don’t want to, but there are lots of opportunities and support to talk about my feelings when I do. '

In 2008, staff have been working to fill in some of the gaps in the service. 

Janice, who runs the Haven says ‘We were supporting people while they were still well enough to come to the centre, and then their families after death – but there was a gap in the middle when they were really seriously ill’.  She is now working towards a service of providing complementary support in the days surrounding death.  The centre's reflexologist is already doing work of this kind outside the Haven, and is well-versed in how to be with families and patients in those very difficult times.

For the comparatively well, the centre is also placing greater emphasis on exercise and gym workouts.  They have gained access to a gym with adapted machines that allow some people with less mobility to be included in sessions.