Patrick House Workshops

For over 13 years Patrick House Workshops have been producing fine quality crafts and products. All the items are produced by volunteers who are either homeless or have mental health problems.

There is a fully equipped Picture Framing Shop which offers expert advice for all your framing needs.

Other services include dry mounting, stretching and crating for overseas deliveries.

Over the years the Welding Shop has designed, fabricated and installed many items ranging from a windmill tower and battery store to power a shepherd’s cottage on the foothills of Snowdonia, to poles for pole dancing for a well known Fitness Club.

In the Woodwork Shop items such as Welsh dressers and rocking horses can be seen taking shape by the skilled hands of the volunteers.

In our newly opened shop you are free to browse and marvel at other crafts such as tables made from exotic woods, decorative metal work for you garden or jewellery and clocks for that special gift.

If you still have time, why not enjoy a beverage while looking at fine works of art, sculptures, pottery and wood carvings in our newly opened Community Art Gallery.

The shop and gallery are open from Monday – Friday 9 o'clock – 4 o'clock.

Newbury Workshop

Here at 210 in Newbury we work closely in supporting The Base as one of our valuable projects.

The Base at 210 provides the residents with an ambience for learning in a relaxed environment. Over the past few months The Base has had a complete revamp which has benefited the residents a great deal. We have added a walk-in library with books which have been donated by the public, creative art tables to draw, paint & work on various other things, a relaxation lounge with weekly newspapers, magazines and even tea & coffee facilities to help make the residents relaxed. We are also very lucky to have a fully functioning Workshop. This is a place where residents can work on building things for their room, help maintain the surroundings at 210 or just get them away from things which are affecting them from everyday life. This is supervised by Terry Gibbs who is the Workshop Manager.

This has been a great success. Many residents access The Base now and we are currently achieving a great deal here. We have Job Workshops where our Tutors create C.V.'s, help fill in application forms and generally provide the residents with more knowledge around the employment area. We also put the residents in touch with the right agencies. This could be a basic course with Learn Direct to other different resources which will enable our service users back into society.

When appropriate, learners may:

• Access college sessions within The Base (e.g. literacy, ceramics)
• Undertake external study using The Base resources (e.g. Learn Direct, CLAIT, art coursework)
• Attend any of the many local colleges (with ongoing support from The Base)
• Seek occupational training or retraining
• Gain employment

Whilst we have all these key benefits for our residents, we also try to vary the way we do things and encourage our clients to take part in various trips, this gives the residents a chance to socialize and also gain some valuable key things. When we return to the hostel we work together in producing evidence using computers or digital photography.