Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl et

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS

Thank you to all those involved in establishing the project in the early days including
staff from RPCP, the HSE, Dublin City Council, the City of Dublin Education and
Training Board and to the Advisory Committee members.

Thanks to the CDETB for supporting the Creative Writing and Arts & Crafts programme
since 2004 and to all the Adult Education Co-ordinators. Thanks also to all of our
wonderful tutors. Thanks to Dublin City Council for their support through community
workers Tom Scott, Ronan ODonnell and Kathleen Farrell. Thanks to the Informal Adult
Education Co-ordinators in DCC.

Thanks to supporting organisations and staff over the years including MABS, Rathmines
Citizens Information Centre, Local Employment Service, Labour Market Support
Workers, NALA, SHINE, Amnesty International, Mental Health Reform, Mental Health
Ireland, Threshold Training Network, Disability Federation Ireland, Irish Advocacy
Network, My Mind and The Copeland Centre. Thank you to the Community Garda
Gerry Hogarty and Brendan Byrne for supporting our members over the years.

Thanks to all of our funders over the years. Particular thanks to our core funders RPCP
and the HSE. Brian Miller has shown his commitment and support for Gateway since
2004. Tara Smith, Manager and the Board of RPCP have been Gateways staunchest
supporters. To other grant and resource providers including Dublin City Council,
CDETB, ESB Electric Aid, Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards, Iarnrod Eireann,
Tesco Community Fund we thank you.

A special thanks to my fellow Development Workers since 2004 Edel Reilly, Sandra
Byrne and Martha Griffin. And to the dedicated Project Workers, currently Ali, Helen,
Mary and Tom. Also we have numerous volunteers and students who have given their
invaluable support. My colleagues in RPCP have also supported and lent a hand to
Gateway in various ways over the years. Thank you to all of you.

Finally to all the Gateway members, thank you for actively supporting and shaping your
project and for all your hard work in making Gateway the wonderful community peer-led
mental health resource it has become. Thanks in particular to all the Gateway researchers
and volunteers over the years and the recent birthday planners, organisers and gatherers.
Extra special thanks to the newsletter editorial group for their ongoing achievements and
group work every month and in particular for creating a beautiful
commemorative issue to remind us of what we do and why.

In solidarity,
Fionn Fitzpatrick - Acting Gateway Development Worker
11 Wynnefeld Road, Dublin 6. Ph. 01-4965558
www.projectgateway.blogspot.com

Gat eway Ment al
Heal t h Proj ect
20042014

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
WELCOME!
Hi, Fionn here, I am currently the acting
Development Worker for Gateway and
follow in the footsteps of some rather
inspired predecessors committed to
creating a space where people with mental
health issues are heard and can be included
on an equal basis with others.
Welcome to this very special booklet
celebrating ten years of Gateways work for positive mental health,
recovery and social inclusion in the community.
Gateway is a member-led community mental health project. We take a
community development approach to empower people with self-
experience of mental ill-health to participate in life on equal terms. We
work alongside our members to build confidence, skills and peer support
locally to achieve this.
Gateway has come far since its foundation in 2004 and since I first joined
as a member through the Self Advocacy Programme several years ago.
These past ten years have seen the project and its members achieve
tremendous success and growth which the editorial team have tried their
best to reflect for readers in this beautiful booklet. Thanks to everyone
involved in and supporting the creation of this special gift for us to enjoy. I
look forward to seeing the project and its people continue to grow from
strength to strength over the coming years.
Enjoy and treasure our gift to you.
Fionn Fitzpatrick, Acting Gateway Development Worker

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
THE FUTURE OF GATEWAY
What does the future hold for Gateway? We hope that Gateway continues
to be a place where people can come and meet friends who are accepting
of them as they are. The fact that Gateway is member-led is hugely
important because it gives people control over what happens, as well as a
sense of belonging and meaning in their lives.
The hope for the future is that Gateway can become an independent entity
run by members, for members, with paid positions for a core staff team to
make the project as effective and sustainable as possible long term. Wed
love to see Gateway build on its mental health and recovery training which
supports people to build their confidence and self-esteem. Most of all we
want Gateway to be thriving for another 10 years, offering an open door
and support in community.
AND THE REST
There is so much more that happens in Gateway - relaxation and
meditation, Indian Head massage, pool competitions, training programmes
like Mindfulness, Personal Development, Wellbeing. Members have
monthly meetings to decide what happens in Gateway, as well as attending
cultural and political events. Members attend the Mental Health Reform
Grassroots Forum, and several members participated in Amnestys
Citizens jury on capacity. There have been public speaking events
through See Change, Experts by Experience and a visit from Minister
Kathleen Lynch. Gateway has raised the profile of mental health and the
need for community based recovery services. We are still doing our best to
support and progress reform nationally.

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
CREATIVE WRITING
AT GATEWAY
Creative Writing classes have been
run in Gateway (with support from
CDETB) for several years. The late
George Ferguson was a well-loved
teacher, and Maria Jones is no less
popular. She describes writing as a
conversation with yourself, with
your future reader, with books that
have inspired you. You learn how to
express yourself. You never have to
feel lonely as long as you can
write. Opposite is just one example
of the beautiful work produced in
the class.
Creative Writing Class meets every
Friday in Parker Hill.
Cry for Peace
War is a place,
Where men die.
Women scream,
And children cry.

Big guns and bombs,
Set off the spark,
The only lights
Are flames in the dark.

As good and bad,
Fight over power.
For the soldier could meet,
His last hour.

As pain and poverty descend,
We pray to God,
That war will end.

Patrick Clifford
GATEWAY PEOPLE
PAST AND PRESENT
Gateway Advisory Committee:
Brian Miller, Dermot Burke,
Gerry Pierce, Louise McCann,
John Kelly, Kathleen Farrell,
Mairead McCann, Mary Quinn,
Orla Barry, Oliver Duffy, Pat
McCormack, Paul Jenkinson,
Ronan ODonnell, Susan
McFeely Gateway
Development Workers:Edel
Reilly, Sandra Byrne, Martha
Griffin, Fionn Fitzpatrick
Project Workers & Support
Staff: Gisela Oates, Janet
Doyle, Richard Moloney,
Samo Hadad, Fionn Fitzpatrick,
Enda Mulcahy, Sinead Kelly,
Mary Barnes, Helen McSherry,
Ali Rochford, Tom Manning.
Volunteers and Students: Oana
Rotarescu, Tola Majelcodunmi,
Larissa McGlone, John Kelly,
Maria Swan, Katie O'Mahony,
Patrick Clifford, Michael
Dooley, Mary Quinn, Mary
Masala, Oliver Duffy, John
Laverty.
Tutors:
Alex Kreis, Neill Drew, Hilary,
Caroline Downey, Carol
McInerney, Elaine Broderick,
Marion Bienert, Jennifer, Helen
McGoldrick, Tim Lloyd,
George Ferguson, Maria Jones,
Geraldine Semple, Siobhan
Larkin, Emille Boland, Jean
McElvaney, Amy Redmond,
Angela Keegan, Mia Gallagher,
Advocacy Team from Irish
Advocacy Network.

300+ Gateway members
changing the world.

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
The Gateway Project
opened in January 2004 as
a pilot initiative between the
Rathmines Community Partnership
and Vergemount Mental Health
Services. It is now an established
Community resource and was
highlighted as an example of good
practice in the National Economic
Social Forum report on Mental
health and Social Inclusion in 2007.
The project beginnings were in a
small room in Grosvenor Road with
a view to specifically targeting
people with enduring mental health
difficulties living in the community.
Edel Reilly coordinated the Project
back then, passing the torch to
Sandra Byrne who saw Gateway
through much growth and
development. Of course they
couldnt have done it without the
Rathmines Pembroke Community
Partnership, numerous other
supporters and Project Workers like
Gisela Oates, Janet Doyle, Samo
Hadad and Richard
Moloney.
The Swan Centre was a happy home
for Gateway for three years until
2009, which saw the big move to
Mount Drummond in Harolds
Cross. Martha Griffin had taken
over in 2008, and along with Project
Workers Enda Mulcahy, Fionn
Fitzpatrick, Mary Barnes, Helen
McSherry, Sinead Kelly, Ali
Rochford and Tom Manning she
continued the valuable work.
Gateway found its present home in
Parker Hill in Rathmines in 2012.
Gateway continues to grow, with
over 300 members, many of whom
participate in the planning,
development and management of
this unique and wonderful Project.
Gateway has always depended on its
members, and the fact that a former
member - Fionn Fitzpatrick - is now
the acting development worker, is
just one of the testaments to our
member-led ethos. Tom and Ali
HISTORY OF GATEWAY
2004-2014

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
WHAT DO WE DO?
G
ateway provides an essential mental health resource where
people can make friends, get support and be informed. This
happens in our drop-in (Mondays and Thursdays 1-5pm) as well
as outside it.
Access to stress reduction as well as recreational, social and cultural
activities support members wellbeing and integration locally. Annual
training and education is planned by and with Gateway members so that
people can
progress their
health and
educational
goals on their
own terms and
as they choose.
Active
membership, leadership and participation have emerged as strong features
of the Gateway Project during this time, as has a collective commitment to
progress recovery approaches to mental ill-health.
The various groups active through Gateway such as the Newsletter Team,
WRAP support groups, Gateway Representatives and Advisory Members,
meet up groups and more, that self-organise within and outside of the
project is testament to the remarkable work of our members, development
workers and project workers over the years to support opportunities for
integration in a truly empowering and member led way. Gateway Project
has become a respected and invaluable community mental health resource.
It is a place where people can and do recover. It is a place of hope,
support, respect and inclusion.

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
The Arts and Crafts
group have been
meeting every
Thursday in Gateway
since nearly the very
first day, and for
most of that time the
brilliant Tim Lloyd
has been steering the
group.
One of the first big
moments for Gateway
was an art exhibition in
the very first
year, and
there was
another in
2008.
Ive been
involved with the art
group for close to seven
years and I find art a
great creative
expression. I enjoy the
variety of different
projects we do, I also
enjoy that things are
very easy-going and
relaxed. -Richard
I find it very relaxing.
When I joined Gateway
I started
doing the
art, about
five
years ago
now. I love mixing
my colours, you
mix a couple of colours
together and you create
your own colour. You
get relaxed and get into
it and you can put
everything out of your
head. -Yvonne
Its very fulfilling,
and has great
therapeutic benefits.
Tim is so helpful and
kind and very
encouraging. You dont
feel under pressure at
all. You can choose
your
own medium. -Linda
Arts & Crafs takes place
every Thursday during drop
in 2.30-4.30pm new artsts
welcome
AA ARTS RTS RTS & C & C & CRAFTS RAFTS RAFTS
Supported by CDETB

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
THE NEWSLETTER
The Gateway Newsletter started out in 2007 as a two page black and white
publication. It always had member submissions, but back then it was put
together by Richard Moloney single-handedly. In 2011 there was
Publisher training for members, and in 2012 we had our first Newsletter
team under Helens guidance. The following year the Newsletter became
the full colour 4-page spread we have today when members decided they
could do with nothing less!
The team meets weekly now, and we have a great sense of achievement at
the end of every month when we have
a new issue ready for members. We get
great satisfaction from sharing our
skills and supporting each other.
Most of us have never done anything
like this before, but it doesnt matter because we learn as we go, with great
support from Ali and Ciarn, our publishing gurus.
The ethos of the team is that we can be ourselves and we dont need to be
in good form to participate. This is also the cornerstone of Gateway. In a
different situation, some of us might not feel so free to learn. We give each
other genuine support, because we understand each other. Even as a new
person in the group, your contribution is valued.
You want to come to Gateway. You want to be a
part of this. The newsletter is just one part of
Gateway, but its so important and it links all the
other activities.
-The Newsletter Team

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
W
hen I first came to
Gateway in 2008 the
drop-in was upstairs in
the Swan Centre. I was nervous
walking in the door but after my
first drop-in session I thought oh
wow I wish Id known about
Gateway the year before as I would
have joined as a Member.
There have been so many highlights
working with the
project, but for
me Gateway was
only ever as
good as the
people there. I
think the essence of Gateway is the
culture of respect, hope, support and
camaraderie.
As Margaret Mead said never
believe that a few caring people
can't change the world. For, indeed,
that's all who ever have. I believe
that Gateway has had some amazing
successes and come through some
challenging times but I believe the
best is yet to come.
Happy 10th Birthday Gateway! My
best to everyone.
Martha Griffin, Gateway
Development Worker
Meet your Project Workers
Hi! We are the lovely people who ensure that
the drop-in opens twice a week and support
members in their journeys.
Mary (top-left) came to Gateway in 2011 and
loves the drop-in and all the members. Helen (top-right), Ali (bottom-left)
and Tom (bottom-right) are all former members, and Gateway has done as
much for them as they have for Gateway. In
Toms words The big thing with Gateway for
me is giving me something to do that makes
me feel like I belong.

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
In 2012 members came together to agree on rights and
responsibilities for all Gateway members. Here is the
inspired list they created...

To express myself
e.g. how I am
feeling.
To feel
safe.
To be heard
to have a voice
To self-
determination
and
independence.
To safe space and
personal space.
To receive
generously.
To flourishing speech -
within reason
To free choice whether
people agree or disagree.
To be treated with
dignity and
respect.
To be
treated as
an adult.
To give generously.
To add to this list.
In Gateway I have the
responsibility...
In Gateway I have the
right...
To listen to other members
and be respectful.
Not to cause any
member to feel upset
or unsafe.
To
participate
as much as
I can.
To support
other
members to
participate.
To be aware of
the needs of
others.
To clean up after myself and
respect our drop-in centre.
To be aware of how my
actions and speech
affect other members.
To tolerate
difference.

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
G
ateway gave me a way to
meet people and make new
friends and exchange
information and ideas.
As a member of Gateway I was
invited to do short courses in
recovery with The Wheel. Getting
the certs for those helped me get my
place on a recent DCU course -
Cooperative Learning Service
Improvement Leadership. We
worked on a project for the mental
health services in St James
Hospital. We wrote a 2000 word
proposal for the
lecturers in DCU.
There was a
really nice
graduation day
with the minister
for mental health Kathleen Lynch.
In terms of my recovery journey -
getting to a place of good mental
health - the fact that I could go to
Gateway has been a great benefit.
The socialisation aspect has been
very important for me.
Oliver Duffy
I
started coming to
Gateway when we
were in the Swan
Centre, there was
something about it that
kept bringing me back
every week, again and
again. Gradually I
settled in but it took a
few years. I kind of got
used to talking to
people, having a laugh.
I feel its helped me in
my home life as well. I
have somewhere to go.
It has helped me to be
able to talk to my
neighbours. I feel I
have a better social life,
its stimulating.
Moving to Parker Hill,
it has really taken off. I
feel like I have come
out of myself a bit, and
the different courses
Ive tried have helped
me. My confidence has
improved through the
courses.
If I stopped coming
here Id go downhill
instead of going to
Parker Hill! -Jim Irwin
MEMBERS STORIES

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
WRAP AT
GATEWAY
Group recovery and
peer support work has
become an important
feature in Gateway, and
so in 2010, the
Wellness Recovery
Action Plan (WRAP )
was introduced.

WRAP is a self-
management
tool and group
recovery
programme for
people with
experience of
mental ill health.
It is an evidence
based recovery
programme to build
hope, positive personal
power, peer support,
self-advocacy,
wellbeing and recovery.
The principles of
WRAP work well in
community
development settings
and their values are
strongly aligned.

WRAP outcomes to
date:
38 Gateway members
have participated in
WRAP programmes
through Gateway since
2010 and many have
achieved significant
individual and
collective achievements
such as:
Several WRAP
community groups set
up by members and
meeting regularly since
2010.
3 people trained and
certified as WRAP
facilitators enabling in-
house delivery.
WRAP at Gateway is
fully peer led,
facilitated by former
members working on
the Project Team.
WRAP Caf -
established in 2014,
resulting in highest
numbers of members
participating in
recovery work to
date, with over
30 members
accessing and
benefiting from
regular monthly
WRAP sessions.
Members have
been recorded for
WRAP for Radio, an
initiative by VE
Productions and
Newstalk to publicise
and celebrate the
successes of people
using WRAP for
recovery around the
country.

Gat e way 10 ye ar Bookl e t
WHAT IS A GATEWAY PROJECT WORKER?


Who are friendly but not
friends*
Inform and educate about
community events and mental
health developments
Who believe in
recovery
Not counsellors,
therapists, medical
staff or cleaners
With our own experience
of mental health issues
We are
people and
peers...
Develop active
membership, leadership,
volunteering and much
more
Support members to
help themselves and
one another
Mind our own
mental health
Challenge members
to try new things and
take on
responsibilities
We do our
best to...
*Project Workers are asked not to develop new friendships
while working in Gateway to keep things fair and equal for all.

Gat e way - i n me mbe rs words
Respect and recognition that
life is difficult Sense of
common purpose Healing
and fulfilment.
Gateway is a place where I go every week, I meet
friends, I look forward to going to Gateway every
week and really enjoy it. I get a lot from Gateway
and I hope they get a lot from me.
It is a place for me
to go when I am not
myself. Gateway is
very important to
me and hopefully I
can help other
people as I have been
helped a lot.
Gateway is a great place to meet up with people, great classes and
courses, its a great place where you can get company with people,
talk about issues we would like to talk about, support with each
other, make friends! Great organisation, I would be lost without it!
I find it a place to
go to clear my
head and meet
other Gateway
members and help
them if I can.
It is where I meet people.
It is a positive place. You
get to know about courses
and various events.
Chat and cuppa Discussion
groups Plans and ideas for
events.

It provides me with a place to go that
is non-judgemental in relation to my
mental health difficulties. It is so nice
to meet people in the same place.
A sanctuary. A safe
place to share concerns
and feel supported.
It is a place where I can be
myself and get real
support. Working on the
newsletter has been
brilliant for me. I love
using computers. I have
learned new skills. Ali and
Ciarn are great teachers,
they are so patient. The
newsletter team is also
brilliant because we all work
together as a team -
encouraging, supporting
It means an oasis a place to get rid of my
burdens, have drinks and biscuits. Talk to
other members, and come heavy and leave
lighter.
Its good for my
mental health
and to meet new
friends.
A place where I meet new and interesting people, all different backgrounds and
life experiences, and theres great company, a chat and a laugh and theres a
feeling of warmth and gentleness, all mindful of each others vulnerabilities
Social
gathering A
place to go to be
myself without
me worrying how
Im feeling that
day Time-out
for myself
structure and
routine
Gat e way - i n me mbe rs words