WellSprings Project at St Hilda’s Church, Seymour Hill

The rector, the Rev David Boyland, pictured with leaders and members of the WellSprings Project on Wednesday 18th March.

WellSprings is a Christian Addiction Therapy Service providing support and interventions to adults recovering from addiction. Specialist counselling, group work, advocacy and referrals to other agencies are available to clients. Our aim is to support them during recovery from addictions and to help them regain their sense of self-worth within their families and communities.

In addition to counselling and the programme, which is offered on an ongoing basis, we introduced in June this year, a once weekly ‘Cook It’ programme where volunteers and clients meet to prepare, cook and eat lunch together - the emphasis is on nutritious food and its role in maintaining health and well being during recovery from addiction. Addiction related struggles have been acknowledged and fellowship and tenacity have grown alongside the cooking and laughter.

The success of this project has led us to introduce ‘FOOD FOR THOUGHT’ a community lunch club on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Our objectives are to give clients ownership of a worthwhile project and help them regain organisational, practical and creative skills, lost to them during addiction. Through teamwork: clients and volunteers working together, we hope to convey to the community, a positive image of WellSprings as a place of recovery and new beginnings. We see ‘FOOD FOR THOUGHT’ as a gateway through which recovering addicts can contribute positively to others whilst regaining their own self-respect. This fellowship lunch attracts around 40 people.

In addition a ‘Painting for Pleasure’ class now takes place each Wednesday afternoon, following either ‘Cook It’ or ‘Food for Thought’. This activity commenced in September under the instruction of one of WellSprings clients, a former Teacher of Art, who now instructs and encourages a small number of people in their artistic endeavours.

The above activities take place as follows:

Counselling by appointment with Mrs Rosie Armstrong-Woodroffe (Phone: 07770871381, 90301777).
Cook It: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at St. Hilda's 12.30pm.
Food for Thought (lunch Club): 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 12.30 – 2.00pm. Open to ALL.
Painting for pleasure: Wednesdays 3.00 – 5.00pm.
Group Programme: Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30pm.
Literacy Classes by appointment (Phone: 07770871381, 90301777).
Telephone Counselling or simply further information. (Phone: 07770871381, 90301777)

11/04/2009