Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Cork Mental Health Foundation
Need Urgent Help Donate
Menu
  • Who we are
    • Meet the board
    • Meet the team
    • History
    • Governance
    • Our Impact
  • Housing
    • Housing and developments
    • Housing applications
  • Education
    • Primary schools
    • Seminars
    • Training
    • Lets Talk Mental Health
  • The Next Step
  • Clonakilty Community Resource Centre
  • Aurora Charity Shop
  • Donate & Fundraise
    • Donate now
    • Current Appeals
    • Fundraise
    • Fundraising ideas
    • Our Fundraisers
    • Set up a fundraising page
    • Facebook Fundraisers
  • Volunteer
    • Why volunteer
    • Volunteering opportunities
  • Other ways to help
    • Corporate partnerships
  • Latest
    • News
    • Events
  • Shop
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • THE NEXT STEP
  1. Education

THE NEXT STEP

“The Next Step is a unique place that welcomes those who have experience of mental health difficulties into an environment that provides creative and engaging activities where individuals flourish.”

See full details on The Next Step website: www.thenextstepcork.org

The Next Step supports people who may have experienced depression, mental health or emotional difficulties in their lives.  Such experience can make life very difficult. Work can be hard to get and many have to live on state benefits. 


We provide a year round programme of creative and engaging activities & workshops to support and enhance mental health and well-being. These include Open Art Studio, Craft Cafe, Restorative Yoga, Woodcraft, Singing, Knitting & Crochet, 5 Rhythms Dance, Mindfulness, Creative Writing. We also run a youth programme, dedicated to the 18 to 25 age group. All our activities are on an open access basis and facilitated by people qualified in their field. See our programme / calendar of events on the top right of this page.

Ethos

We support participants by providing a variety of activities and workshops they can attend as and when and for as long as they wish. We do not provide therapy or counselling. We do not intrude or inquire into their personal experience, rather we allow the person to decide what works for them. We hope that by participating in our programme, they will gain self confidence and self esteem, form friendships and in time feel better in and about themselves. In this way we hope participants will be better able to engage with friends, family and the wider community.

Next_Step_Prog_SEPT_DEC_2019.pdf

Origins

Declan was our inspiration. A casual meeting over coffee sometime in the Autumn of 2009, many more meetings, discussions of options, and a search for funds culminated on 27th April 2011 in a 2 hour art class, one day a week for 10 weeks at the Camden Palace Hotel community art centre, led by professional artist Charlotte Donovan and funded by City Hall.

It went well, all 10 participants seemed to like it. Many said that it became a focal point of their week, something to look forward to. The Next Step was up and running.


Developing over the years

We have gradually increased the scope of activities provided. By September 2012 we were operating 2 days a week, including one ‘self managed’ day (less costly!). Over time we managed to secure the necessary funding to add further activities including wood-craft, creative writing, mindfulness, singing, dance, yoga, knitting and crafts to the point where we now operate 5 days a week. In 2015 the Camden Palace Hotel arts centre closed. We were fortunate to be able to relocate to the Unitarian Church in the city centre.

We are a volunteer run organisation, we have no paid staff. We do pay facilitators to run most activities but some are facilitated by volunteers, people who initially came as participants. We are a registered charity. We have adopted the ‘Governance Code’ for voluntary organisations. We believe in openness and transparency and regularly consult with participants.

We have been fortunate in receiving adequate funding over the years. We now get 50% from the HSE and a further 15% from small weekly contributions from participants. The balance has come from a variety of sources.



Do participants benefit?

The Next Step provides an alternative approach for people with mental health difficulties. Our belief is that through attendance at our workshops and activities, in a safe and welcoming environment they might improve self confidence and self esteem, the better able thereby to engage with friends, family and the wider community. We make no judgement on what is the best approach. For some, The Next Step works very well. Others may seek something different. There is no simple one-size-fits-all solution.

We were aware from the outset that there was good evidence for the benefit of art in fostering good mental health. 

In a 2011 report: ‘Beyond Diagnosis - the transformative potential of the arts in mental health recovery’ was published by a research team into a HSE ‘Arts + Minds’ group project. Among its findings were:

             Beyond Diagnosis found that the arts in mental health are a tool to recognise people’s resourcefulness and multiple skills, which are often lost when they become ‘patients’ in a mental health service.

and

             The Arts + Minds Research Project provides clear evidence of the value of the arts in mental health in promoting individual wellbeing, recovery-oriented practice and social inclusion for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

We have sought feedback from participants on a number of occasions. The following is a sample of comments received:

“In a quiet space in the middle of the city there exists The Next Step, a little bit of magic, a place where all this happens:

...“expression, exploring, acceptance”...  ...“renaissance”...  ...“exploring art + enjoying it”...  ...“A place to enrich my spirit”...  ...“It allows me to express myself in colour”... 

We are a collective of individuals who come together and find a friendly welcome and a space to let the creativity within find expression. In other words: we paint, we draw, we print, we learn techniques; we chat, we sew, we make, we grow; we dabble, we think, we laugh, we drink (tea + coffee!). We sing, we dance, we meditate; we come and go, let ideas flow, we feel supported, enriched, safe, encouraged. Sometimes we’re just messin’ - but that’s OK, ‘cos there’s no ‘right’ way! We’re just free to explore once we walk in that door, and we can leave it all behind, ease our troubled minds and enter a small piece of heaven. Let’s hope it lasts for ever.”

and:

“I was referred to this service at a time in my life when I was recovering from mental distress, and it proved invaluable to me. Through it I made wonderful friends and developed my skills as an artist and writer. I have learned so much along the way about the creative process, about life and about myself. Just watching people flourish in the group has been an incredible experience.”

some further individual comments:

Feel safe… Have something in common with other participants… Gets me out of the house… Just enjoy being there… I’m happier… Gained more control over my emotions… More confident… Made me feel good about myself… Less nervous… Better self esteem… Motivated to get up out of bed… It saved my life

Some participants have gone on to facilitate activities themselves, no small indication of a transformation in their lives. 

All this is very heartening and makes us aware of what an important and worthwhile place in peoples’ lives is The Next Step.

Published: 13th November, 2019

Updated: 24th September, 2021

Author: Brendan Mccarthy

Location: Unitarian church, Princes Street, Cork

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Joy in the Park a huge Success

    Joy in the Park a huge Success

    Joy in the Park which was held on Sunday the 17th of July proved to be a resounding success with over 9500 people attending throughout the day.

  • Golf Classic 2022 a great Success

    Golf Classic 2022 a great Success

    Great day had by all in Lee Valley Golf Club at our recent Golf Classic. Thank you to everyone who played, donated and sponsored the event

  • Aurora Shop Team of The Year 2021

    Aurora Shop Team of The Year 2021

    Aurora Mallow was voted Shop team of the year 2021.

  • Celebrate Our 60th Anniversary With Us!

    Cork Mental Health is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year.

Most read

  • THE NEXT STEP

    THE NEXT STEP

    “The Next Step is a unique place that welcomes those who have experience of mental health difficulties into an environment that provides creative and engaging activities where individuals flourish.”

  • AURORA CHARITY SHOP

    AURORA CHARITY SHOP

    Aurora is our Charity Shop based on St. Josephs Road in Mallow Co.Cork

  • Volunteering opportunities

    Volunteering opportunities

    We have a number of different areas in which you can volunteer.

  • Meet the team

    Meet the Team

  • CLONAKILTY COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE

    CLONAKILTY COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE

    Clonakilty Community Resource Centre is a community initiative established by the Community for the Community.

  • Slatterys of Kilworth Christmas Lights Appeal

    Slatterys of Kilworth Christmas Lights Appeal

    We are delighted that the Slatterys of Leitrim, Kilworth, Co.Cork have chosen Cork Mental health as their Charity this year to raise funds from their Christmas lights appeal.

  • Housing and developments

    Housing and developments

  • HOUSING

    HOUSING

    Cork Mental Health Housing Association provides housing to people who have experienced mental health difficulties throughout Cork City and County.

  • Meet the board

    Our Board of Directors are Volunteers and give of their time freely to assist in the running of the organisation.

  • Need Help

    Need Help

    Cork Mental Health is not a counselling service and is not open 24/7 therefore if you are in need of urgent help please use the following information.

Volunteering opportunities

Volunteering opportunities

We have a number of different areas in which you can volunteer. Read more

Published: 21st May, 2019

Updated: 3rd January, 2020

Author:

Bessborough Gardening Group

Bessborough Gardening Group

This Gardening Group has been established for over 4 years and gives people who experienced mental health difficulties a place to go and work with there hands and produce something they can be proud of which gives them a great sense of achievement and self worth. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 30th September, 2020

Updated: 2nd October, 2020

Author: Brendan Mccarthy

Location: bessborough, Mahon, Cork

The Next Step

The Next Step

“The Next Step is a unique place that welcomes those who have experience of mental health difficulties into an environment that provides creative and engaging activities where individuals flourish.” Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 30th September, 2020

Author: Brendan Mccarthy

Location: Princess street, Cork City

Comments: 1

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us

Registered Office
Unit 4,
Nore House,
Bessboro Road,
Blackrock,
Cork
Ireland

+00 353 21 4511100
[email protected]

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Follow us

  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Cork Mental Health Housing Association complies with the Voluntary Regulatary Code for Approved Housing bodies
Foundation: Charity Reg No : 20066260 CHY 17675 : Housing: Charity Reg No: 20010577 CHY 6172