On a bright frosty morning, service users and staff set off for a ramble exploring Hampton Court Palace. The walk was a good five miles and followed the River Thames down to Kingston Bridge, where we stopped for a warming cup of coffee and delicious cake. We returned through the centre of Hampton Court Park, […]

Have a look at the feature on the Safe Haven in Aldershot from BBC Television The One Show. Great to see the work of the groundbreaking mental health crisis support which the Safe Haven provides in Aldershot (and soon to be available across Surrey). Open at The Wellbeing centre in Aldershot 7 days a week out […]

We are looking for some very special people for our SMART Recovery Groups across Surrey. Listen here: * Have you ever been in treatment for drug and alcohol issues * Do you have the capacity, stability and lifestyle to become a facilitator? * Would you like to increase your skill set, support others and give […]

Catalyst have developed a specialist Managing Emotions series of Workshops which are being offered in partnership with the Surrey Homeless Alliance and LeatherHEAD START.  The first series of 4 sessions ran in December at Vaughn House (supported housing for men and women experiencing homelessness) in Guildford, and yesterday saw the first session at The York […]

* CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CONTACT* We will be closed on Friday December 25th, Monday December 28th 2015 and Friday January 1st 2016. Please leave a message on 01483 590 150 or call Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care – a 24 hour manned confidential help line giving support and information to drug and alcohol users […]

189 people took part in the survey 75% voted for Guildford Of the 189 people that voted, 142 (75%) voted for the Safe Haven to be located in Guildford. Reasons given to support Guildford included:  Better public transport links from more areas  Central Guildford has the most need for this support  A natural […]

People have told us that better out of hours support would really help to prevent and manage a mental health crisis. This has led to the development of ‘Safe Havens’ across Surrey, starting in Aldershot. Their experience so far is that people undergoing a mental health crisis are less likely to go to A&E as […]

TAKE THE TEST –  Don’t Bottle it Up!     1 in 4 adults drink more than the recommended limits – in Surrey that means about 237,000 people. Drinking regularly at these levels has evidence that it significantly increases the risk of a number of chronic health conditions like heart disease, liver disease and cancers of the colon, […]

People have told us that better out of hours support would really help to prevent and manage a mental health crisis. This has led to the development of ‘Safe Havens’ across Surrey, starting in Aldershot. Their experience so far is that people undergoing a mental health crisis are less likely to go to A&E as […]

Plans to open a ‘Safe Haven’ in Camberley for people in mental health crisis become a reality at 6pm this Friday (13th November 2015). The drop in centre at 147 London Road, new home of The Welcome Project, will offer a safe, calm and friendly welcome for people and carers in need of emotional and […]

Catalyst had even more reason to celebrate when they got together with volunteers, staff and guests to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at the Lightbox in Woking on 20 October 2015.  The Reach Out Counselling programme was able to show off the big cheque which will fund the volunteer counsellors for another 4 […]

Tuesday 20 October 2015. The Lightbox in Woking.  Volunteers, staff and guests gathered to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from Mr Michael More-Molyneux.  What a fantastic achievement and recognition for the work done by Catalyst’s Volunteer Counsellors, group workers and Volunteers in The Welcome Project! There are over 40 qualified counsellors who work […]

Wednesday 14 October 2015 saw the Safe Haven Crisis Café in Aldershot win the ‘Improving Care for people experiencing Mental Health Crisis’ at the Positive Practice in Mental Health 2015 Awards held in Newcastle, hosted by Northumberland Tyne & Wear Foundation NHS Trust.  It was a fantastic accolade for the success and support of a […]

Saturday 10 October 2015 was World Mental Health Awareness Day and there were lots of things happening around Surrey too. Jill, Sandra and Jane from Catalyst in Surrey went along to the Open Day for the new buildings at Farnham Road Hospital in Guildford to see what is behind the Victorian facade. Light, space and […]

This year’s Domestic Abuse (DA) Awareness Week runs from Monday 5th October to Sunday 11th October. The theme, once again, is ‘Love shouldn’t hurt.’ Watch this powerful film clip The week aims to help everyone recognise what constitutes a healthy relationship, particularly teenagers and young people. It also helps raise awareness of how unhealthy relationships can […]

20 staff and clients of Catalyst headed for the hills this week to enjoy the beautiful Autumn weather and spend some time talking and discovering the countryside. With a lunch stop at Newlands Corner, the 6 mile trail ended at St Marthas and took in some of the best views in the Surrey Hills. Jill from the […]

Catalyst are delighted that two of our volunteers were among 50 people awarded an Unsung Volunteer Award by the Chairman of Surrey County Council, Mrs Sally Marks, last week. This is the first time the awards have been made and it was a wonderful occasion to hear some of the stories of hard work and […]

We are delighted to have the fantastic news that our Reach Out Counselling project has received more funding from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund. It means we can continue providing counselling and groups for people struggling with issues around drug and alcohol use, and develop the programme to help more people. The Reach Out […]

Exciting plans to create a ‘Safe Haven’ in Camberley for people in mental health crisis are underway. Following on from the success of the Time Out Cafe in Aldershot which has been providing a safe and supportive environment at evenings and weekends, Catalyst is working with Surrey Heath NHS and Surrey County Council to have […]

The rain held off, the sun shone and there were lots of good conversations with people in Godalming High Street on Wednesday 22 July when Catalyst and The Welcome Project set up a stall. The Welcome Project in Godalming and offers activities and support to people with mental health and wellbeing issues – anything from […]

A café for people in mental health crisis is a finalist in the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care – and Catalyst is involved.  The Safe Haven Project at the Time Out Café in the Wellbeing Centre, Aldershot was set up to provide a calm and safe atmosphere where people can access the help they […]

In the week we launched as Catalyst and won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the work done by our volunteer counsellors, on Thursday 5 of our volunteers received Surrey Heath Volunteer Awards as well!   Congratulations to Greg, Lorraine, Suey and Caroline for winning the Voluntary Contribution to Health Services for […]

The new name for SAdAS is finally launched – at G Live on Wednesday morning over 100 guests, staff, volunteers and clients came to celebrate the new phase for the charity. There was live music from The Banned, displays of art, creative writing, photography and craft. Coming a day after the award of the Queen’s […]