Glass painting

We are always trying to find different activities to engage with the clients. If we suggest activities for them to try we will often be met with a negative reply. Wendy is very skilled in drawing clients into an activity. She will sit near to the clients and begin an activity. Before very long one [...]

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Training results

Our certificates came back today from the joint course we did as a staff team on handling conflict with difficult clients. We have all passed so that is good news. We realised that the examiner had put comments on everyone’s work, so we avidly read these. All were very good comments but unfortunately Sue’s was [...]

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5 New Clients

This week we have had 5 new clients in the centre which has been good. We are always pleased to have new people come to Bens. Part of the process of coming into Bens is that we have to assess our potential clients and this means that we take them into the office and sit [...]

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A Journey starts with a first step

Today was a bit of a breakthrough with one of our clients. He has been using our centre for a good number of years, and has been drinking for a good proportion of his life. We have made very little progress with him as he is older and his patterns in his life are well [...]

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Monday 11th February

Today it’s very cold. Severe frost overnight leaving everywhere looking pretty, but it must be below freezing.
In the centre we have a gradual build up of numbers as the morning continues. All come in complaining of the cold.
Teresa is in the kitchen cooking sausage casserole and lovely aromas are wafting through the project.
Phil, our volunteer [...]

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A letter from the Queen!

I thought I’d give you another snapshot in to one of our client’s life that will help you see the great diversity we are dealing with day to day and also the amazing characters we have.
We had a client who had been street drinking for a good proportion of his life. He was truly entrenched [...]

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Our Lovely Ladies

We have been endeavoring to establish our work with our female clients for a while as Women’s groups are notoriously difficult to start and to maintain. We have tried various activities with them such as taking them to the local college to have their hair cut and coloured, having their nails painted and for a [...]

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