Our history
When we were set up in the mid-1980s, we were known as The Cellar Project. A Social Worker working on the Rehabilitation Ward at Scalebor Park Hospital in Burley in Wharfedale realised there was little opportunity or training to assist people with long term mental health problems back into employment. The name originated from the fact the project comprised of three workshops that ran in the cellar of a Victorian house, which was being used as a group home for people who were recently discharged from hospital.
The first workshops
The Cellar Project ran 3 workshops; woodwork, textiles and painting. All contributed towards a range of children’s play furniture and dressing up clothes which were sold through craft fairs at first and later through a catalogue. The aim of the project was to provide a relaxed, non threatening environment in which people who were recently discharged from hospital could gain confidence and social skills before applying for paid employment.
A new home
By the 1990s The Cellar Project had outgrown it’s humble premises, so rented part of the old St Walburga`s Catholic Primary School on Farfield Road, Shipley, eventually taking over the whole building and buying it. It still remains our home, although we also deliver some of our work from other locations around Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.
Service evolution
Over time our service evolved further to focus support around vocational activity. The workshops were established as Skill Shops, with a focus on building confidence and developing a range of skills. In addition to this, the Vocational Development Team was developed to support individuals to action plan, and overcome any barriers to recovery.
Today
Today we aim to provide mental health support in Bradford, helping people move forward in their recovery and live independent, fulfilling lives. We offer different mental health services to adults across the Bradford district and into Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.
