Pentreath Industries was a charity set up when St lawrence's mental hospital in Cornwall closed - the manager transferring from St Lawremnce's to provide continuity. A far sighted innovation, to do for those patients in hospital who wanted to do something, and whose illness wasseen to be better for having a routine in the day and the week: ln doing something outside themselves, on a regular basis.
Pentreath carried on with the off-ward activities that were available in hospital for long-stay patients - mainly continuing schizophrenia. Printing, sheltered workshop contracts and assembly, horticulural work, some office assistance, occupational activities, interest groups: all kept patients to a schedule in their week.
It took them off the domestic ward, giving relief to the ward staff caers , who got relief also in that their commitment was in shift work . [ Unlike relief for family carers ]any
Pentreath was to continue and innovate other activities, county wide,
for those with long-term illness to engage in, sufficiently locally for access,
as they were resettled, or moved into continuing care from a home base,
scattered now throughout the county, as the mental hospital closed down it's longstay population.
In 1996 the overall annual adult mental health budget was about £13,000,000, out of which Pentreath got £300,000. [ 3% ]
They received nothing from Local Authority Social Services Mental Illness Specific Grant to sustain these section 117 aftercare provisions.
In 2007 the overall adult mental health budget is £ 43,000,000, out of which Pentreath Industries gets £400,000 { 1% ]
The commissioning contract is now to provide ... " pathways to work for people with mental health problems ". So much for those with a residue of continuing schizophrenia. Their sheltered rehabilitation - to take part in a schedule of regular weekly activites , lost ...
The weak never got to the water hole.
The consequences of failing to match up funding proportionately, to those with continuing serious illness, and their carers, ensured that Pentreath Industries,
once given a national acclaim, could not catch up, dwindled into working with the less needy.
Their needs were unachieved in 1996 despite the excellent manager seeking supportive funding form outside the NHS - regretfully the funding sought outside the NHS, when it was clear nothing significant would come from the Cornwall Primary care Trust, would be tied to getting people back into full time competitive work.
Pentreath was never linked with a Rehabilitation and Recovery mental health Trust Team Service incorporating day centres.
Pentreath gradually downsized it's activities, lost it's ability to provide rehabilitation activities county-wide, to help in the continuing caring of those in serious mental illnesses, who needed sheltering activities outside the homebase, helping them find the routine which anchored them against relapse.
It abandoned the struggle for rehabilitation, and settled for moving people back into full-time competitive work.
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As one local county counsellor on the mental health committee was more bluntly heard to say on the moves into the community " they should never have let the b.....s out"
Pentreath Redux ?
My name is Naomi and I work for Pentreath Ltd.
Part of my job is to shift perception of us away from our previous name of Pentreath Industries.
Pentreath is an award winning [? Ed:- as Pentreath Industries ? ] mental health charity working throughout the whole of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
We inspire and support our clients through a journey of both personal and vocational development with the aim of securing future employment, education or training.
As well as delivering tailor-made Information, Advice and Guidance sessions to our clients we also work to raise awareness and challenge any misunderstandings that society has about mental health.
As an organisation, Pentreath recognises that supporting people to access facilities within their local community can help them to develop skills, self confidence and raise their future prospects and aspirations.
Our clients are at the very centre of our projects and these are developed to meet their needs. This means we are always providing a fresh and continually changing service.
The people we work with come from all kinds of backgrounds and have access to various programmes including vocational and recreational (leisure related) activities through us.
We work in partnership with various organisations including the NHS, JobCentre Plus, Connexions and other mental health charities such as Mind and Outlook South West. We accept self referrals from individuals as well as those from professionals such as GPs, Jobcentre Plus and many other organisations.
Pentreath was founded in 1990 and achieved registered charity status and became a company limited by guarantee in 1991.
If you require any more information about us please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Naomi Richards Marketing Assistant Pentreath Ltd 07925 684877
Our Mission:
Promoting good mental health through personal development, education and employment.
Pentreath Ltd, St Enoder Barns, Glebe Farm, Narrow Lane, Summercourt, Newquay TR8 5EE
Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England No: 259 3533
Registered Charity Number: 1004477