VIDEO: Slideshow from open day at charity Amber Trust

Mental health support charity Amber Trust has opened their doors to residents of Ripley for the first time in 10 years, as it opened a brand new community facility.
The Amber Trust open day, Ripley. l-r are John King, Tracy Litchfield, Valerie Broom, Roger Taylor, Olive Green, Kathy Kozlowski, Peter Arnold. Kathy is CEO and the other are all Trustees.The Amber Trust open day, Ripley. l-r are John King, Tracy Litchfield, Valerie Broom, Roger Taylor, Olive Green, Kathy Kozlowski, Peter Arnold. Kathy is CEO and the other are all Trustees.
The Amber Trust open day, Ripley. l-r are John King, Tracy Litchfield, Valerie Broom, Roger Taylor, Olive Green, Kathy Kozlowski, Peter Arnold. Kathy is CEO and the other are all Trustees.

‘The Hub @ Amber Trust’ is a multi-purpose room and office space that is available for hire. The room has been converted from a previously disused warehouse at the rear of their new main office building in Wellington Street.

It was officially opened in front of 100 people by the Ripley Mayor Alwyn Bridge who heaped praise on the new hub.

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He said: “This is a good facility for the area. Good luck to Amber Trust, I hope you are still here in another 30 years”.

The Amber Trust open day, Ripley. l-r are John King, Tracy Litchfield, Valerie Broom, Roger Taylor, Olive Green, Kathy Kozlowski, Peter Arnold. Kathy is CEO and the other are all Trustees.The Amber Trust open day, Ripley. l-r are John King, Tracy Litchfield, Valerie Broom, Roger Taylor, Olive Green, Kathy Kozlowski, Peter Arnold. Kathy is CEO and the other are all Trustees.
The Amber Trust open day, Ripley. l-r are John King, Tracy Litchfield, Valerie Broom, Roger Taylor, Olive Green, Kathy Kozlowski, Peter Arnold. Kathy is CEO and the other are all Trustees.

Amber Trust involvement manager Tracy Litchfield said: “We hope that The Hub @ Amber Trust is used every day of the week, either by Amber Trust and the people we work with or by other groups and organisations.

“We held our first book evening on World Book Night and we are arranging for some of the support we give to people to be delivered in group activities and learning which will enable us to continue to help as many people as possible.

“It’s a lovely venue. I hope people will contact me to arrange to come and look and see if it can meet people’s needs”.

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The registered charity has provided support to people across Derbyshire, who experience mental health difficulties, for over 30 years.
Until earlier this year the trust was based in offices in East Mill in Belper, but hasnopwmoved to Ripley.

The trust began life as a support group in Ripley in the late 1970s and over time went from strength to strength to become the professional organisation it is today.

Funding for their services largely comes from Derbyshire County Council Adult Care, which is a concern at present as the council looks to cut more than £150 million due to funding cuts.

Amber Trust provides housing-related support for people living in their own homes or in accommodation units provided by the trus. It deals with more than 200 people each week in Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales and the High Peak.

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Every client has their own support worker and an individual support plan. They help with practical things including making sure people keep up with their utility bills to helping them look at what they want from life and how to get there.

The trust also helps people to be a good neighbour, access health, faith and leisure facilities, access education, work and training, maintain contact with family and friends and make a positive contribution to their community.

Chief executive Kathy Kozlowski said: “Amber Trust has been a part of Amber Valley for over 30 years and the day was a celebration of all we have achieved in the community and a way of us finding out how we can continue to support people in future. It is a privilege to see people recover from their problems and illnesses and achieve healthy and good lives and for our staff and volunteers ‘going the extra mile’ is an everyday occurrence.”

To hire the room call the trsut on 01773

Captions:

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Big day Amber Trust open day in Ripley. From left are John King, Tracy Litchfield, Valerie Broom, Roger Taylor, Olive Green, Kathy Kozlowski, Peter Arnold. Kathy is the trust’s chief executive and the other are all trustees


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Plant success Hazel Baldwin Amber Trust project worker from its allotment project with Will Spowadge


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Smootie time Andrew Bell and David Jubb making smoothies

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Craft time Tammy Ashford and Sue Naish. Sue is a volunteer who runs the craft groups

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Craft time The Amber Trust open day, Ripley. Pictured is Tammy Ashford and Sue Naish. Sue is a volunteer who runs the craft groups

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