For some, it’s a new place to hang out. For others, it’s a tangible connection to a brighter future off the unit.
There’s a new café run by clients, for clients, inside the secure Forensic Treatment Unit at Brockville Mental Health Centre.
The River Café officially opened on May 17. It was made possible by donations to The Royal, and will equip forensic treatment clients with work and life skills that will hopefully come in handy when they transition back into the community.
“When I first heard about the River Café, I thought it was a good thing. When they handed the applications on the unit I applied right away, because I knew it would give me work experience and something to do while I am here,” says Trevor, one of the clients at Brockville Mental Health Centre who works in The River Café.
“I really like it,” he adds. “This program helps me to focus on something constructive to do and it gives me something to look forward to. Maybe one day I will be able to get work in the community again. The café is an important part in helping me prepare for the community.”
The River Café — named by the clients — is located in a secure part of the Brockville Mental Health Centre and is for staff and clients’ use only. During the launch, however, staff and clients welcomed special guests to the café opening, including The Royal’s board of trustees.
"This program helps me to focus on something constructive to do and it gives me something to look forward to. Maybe one day I will be able to get work in the community again."“The River Café is a program that evolved based on a need expressed by clients and staff,” says Julie Basiliadis, one of the occupational therapists key to making the café happen.
“This is a positive space that encourages social integration in a casual setting, and also promotes a sense of empowerment among clients. They now have the opportunity to make their own food choices and develop competitive employment skills as they prepare for community reintegration.”
This project has been in development since 2016 and provides a dedicated space where both clients and staff can socialize in a casual setting. Prior to the creation of the café, such a space did not exist. The River Café is open Monday to Friday for two hours a day during lunch.
Clients prepare the food served there, and a dietitian helps clients create the café’s menu. The River Café also provides the client photography group – another occupational therapy program in Brockville — a space to showcase their art, which hangs on the café walls.
