July ’25, Arty-Folks welcomed a new staff member, Rory McDermott, who is taking the role of REACH Peer Support Worker. He will be offering 1:1 support to people aged 18+ in South Warwickshire who are referred to us by NHS CWPT Mental Health Services.
REACH Realising Everyone’s Access to Community Help
What is REACH?
Realising Everyone’s Access to Community Help (REACH) was established in 2023 and is the result of a fantastic collaboration by the VCSE Mental Health Alliance spearheaded by Rethink Mental Illness of over 70 local providers that include members of the Cultural Inclusion Network such as Inini, Sahil, Ambacare, the Tamarind Centre, and Coventry Muslim Forum.
This innovative collaboration of services has opened up the opportunity to move away from disjointed and silo working to a new integrated, flexible, responsive and personalised model of care for adults with severe mental health needs who are either waiting for secondary care Mental Health Services or are being discharged.
Arty-Folks is proud to be part of this new initiative that will ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community are supported to access opportunities in a manner most suited to their needs.
We invite you to join us on this journey of hope, recovery, and transformation as we continue to make mental health support a priority in our community.
Together, we can create a brighter future for all!
How can Rory help?
AS Peer Support Worker Rory brings a unique perspective to person-centred recovery as he has personally navigated the challenges of mental distress to emerge on the path to recovery.
This shared experience will allow him to connect with individuals and provide invaluable support to those referred to our REACH Service. We believe that by sharing personal stories in a safe space, we can inspire hope and optimism, and instill confidence and self-belief that recovery is possible and achievable.
We recognise and value that every person is unique, and their needs are at the forefront of our approach. Rory will use a person-centred model, tailoring the support to individual goals and aspirations and empower patients to to explore services and opportunities in their locality, and connect to supportive networks. Rory will liaise with external agencies, complimentary therapies, and community groups on behalf of our service users, ensuring they receive the well-rounded care they deserve. Our Peer Support Worker is also an advocate for change. Rory will challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and do his best to address the difficulties individuals face when accessing services.