Your Community Based Adult Mental Health Organization
Our Activities
Approximately 20 group activities are held monthly, arranged by members, for members and associate members. Members may bring a guest to many of our social and leisure activities. Associate Members are defined as members from other agencies that have linkage agreements with Friends & Advocates Peel.
Governance: Members form decision making bodies for every aspect of the organization from fundriasing to financial; dances to decorations and public relations to problem solving.
Discussion Groups: Any topic of interest to our members is fair game for "SMALL TALK". Members may decide to have someone in from the community to facilitate a discussion group with question and answer sessions. It is all up to the members!
Social & Leisure: All other events on our calendar are social and leisure activities. These activities could be our bowling league, our new minature golf league, Karaoke nights, movie nights or nature walks. Activities are explained in detail in our monthly calendar and organized by members. The calendar is mailed monthly to each member.
Throughout the year, we also host a series of events called "The Living Series". These events are open to the community and focus on community issues that focus on but are not limited to, Mental Health, Crime Prevention, Healthy Living and Communication, just to name a few.
Activities may be subsidized, as well as transportation to or from activities, on an individual basis.
Training Programs: Friends & Advocates Peel operates four training programs which helps members gain skills neccessary to attain their own goals. All of the programs focus on building self confidence and valuable communication and presentation skills.
The Leadership Program provides members the opportunity to learn how to facilitate the evening and weekend activities, themselves.
The D.J. Club teaches others how to conduct themselves as Disc Jockeys and how to operate professional equipment. The "Club" does the music for our dances and occassionally are requested for community functions.
The Presentation Team trains interested members how to make presentations to the community, providers, families, and consumer groups.
The Theatre Company members receive "hands on" expereince in creating and performing a stage production.
Additional Services:
Lifestyle Counselling offers members the opportunity to discuss issues of importance to them with a staff member, through appointments arranged at their convenience. A partner / volunteer relationship may be contracted in order to provide one-to-one support outside of the programmed activities.
24 Hour Crisis Intervention is made available to our members. It must be emphasised that the philosophy of Friends & Advocates Peel is to prevent crises from developing in members, by providing a rich support system of friendship and activities. However, in the event that a crisis does present itself to a member, there is staff support available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. During the evening and on weekends, this support is currently provided the Mobile Crisis Response Team of Peel.
News-A-Peel is the Friends & Advocates Peel monthly calendar of activities. This is sent out to the members and affiliated community agencies. The publication offers important information and flyers concerning upcoming events.
Hospital Visits by program representatives will occur if Friends & Advocates is made aware of a member being admitted to hospital. Phone calls of support and well wishes or cards will be sent out to our members in the event of a hospital stay. It should be noted that the focus of the program is to reduce hospitalizations so the annual number of visits remain relatively low.
Support Calls to the Friends & Advocates Peel members are regularly conducted just to stay in touch and offer words of encourage.
Counselling Services are offered to members should they wish to discuss and work on any concerns or issues. The staff can offer support and work the process neccessary to achieve success. Members are encouraged to work on both long and short term goals.
Member Birthdays are celebrated by sending out a birthday card and during the General Members meetings with a song and sweet treat.
Members are encouraged to get together outside of the organized activities!