- The Friends of Valkenberg Trust celebrated its 30th anniversary by launching a revamped Friendly Shop.
- The Observatory-based shop, which employs patients from Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital, now features a vibrant lounge, laminated floors, and changing rooms, thanks to generous sponsors.
- The shop serves as a skills hub for patients, offering training in food preparation, customer service, and more, while also supporting their recovery journey.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary the Friends of Valkenberg (FOV) Trust launched its revamped Friendly Shop yesterday (6 Monday).
The Observatory-based organisation supports and promotes the recovery of those admitted to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.
The shop, which employs seven patients, consists of three sections: takeaways, a tuck shop and a thrift shop.
But thanks to generous sponsors the facility now boasts a vibrant lounge in the coffee shop, laminated floors and changing rooms.
Soraya Solomon, director of Friends of Valkenberg Trust, says: “We realised the need for a beautiful space for staff to come and have a mental health break. The patients can leave the ward and come here to relax and read a magazine away from the dreary hospital environment. This space is a sanctuary for both staff, patients, and their family members.”
She explains that prices are affordable as most patients come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Solomon adds that the Friendly Shop was established a few years ago to help the organisation become more sustainable.
“It serves as a skills hub for patients on their recovery journey. We teach them food preparation, customer service, administration, stock take, and how to become baristas. We have trained 12 baristas but could only employ two. We are also engaging with chef training schools because we want to send patients for training.”
Gardening, pre-loved goods
She explains that they also started an organic garden.
“We teach patients to do organic gardening. We grow spinach, broccoli and other vegetables. We provide the kitchen with some of the vegetables and the rest we sell at affordable prices. Every cent that we make goes back to fund and sustain our projects.”
Solomon appeals to people to donate pre-loved items.
Solomon says they are grateful to all the sponsors who came on board and gave the shop a much-needed facelift.
“The shop was a typical charity shop and we needed to change the face of the shop. It is now a space that people can enjoy. We didn’t have a coffee lounge before. An interior designing company came on board. A project manager volunteered his time to oversee the project. All the furniture was donated by donors.”
She encourages the public to visit the shop and explains that the shop is open weekdays from 09:00 until 14:00.
Looking back on the organisation’s 30-year journey, Solomon says there is still a stigma attached to mental health.
According to the World Health Organisation, one in every eight people in the world live with a mental disorder.
Priority
Solomon encourages people to make their mental health a priority.
“The stigma around mental health still exists. People go to see a doctor for a checkup, but when you tell them to take care of their mental health immediately there is hesitation.
“Taking care of your body cannot exclude your mind. Your health cannot exclude your mental health. Be conscious about taking a break. The most common mental health challenges are depression and anxiety.”
Charlyn Goliath, chief executive officer of the Valkenberg Hospital, says she is grateful to all the donors who made the refurbishments. She adds that the store serves a dual purpose.
“It is part of a reintegration process for our patients. This is the space where they do activities that are part of their rehabilitation such as going to the shop, budgeting, socialising etc and the second part is for our staff as part of own wellbeing. As staff, we have a place to go and energise and relax in an environment away from our normal workspace. It contributes to staff wellness.”
Goliath says for the past three decades the FOV played a crucial role at the institution.
“The partnership started after a need was identified. We are not able to provide and support patients and staff without the support of FOV.”
