The Centre is currently open five days per week (Monday - Friday) purely as a mental health resource. There are also some 'open to all' evening sessions, including drop in's, music nights, quiz nights and poetry performance evenings.

The Centre offers a wide range of learning and personal development opportunities to service users. These include social support, educational opportunities, group activities and advisory services.
In partnership with New College Durham,
the Centre currently offers over 25 courses each week during the 3 academic terms ranging from arts/culture to
healthy lifestyles, personal development and lifelong-learning. Group activities include music and poetry performances and educational and leisure trips away from the Centre.

Information Booklet of Courses Available at Waddingotn Street Centre

About our Service Users

The Centre is available to adults with severe and enduring mental health and dual diagnosis who have been referred by a relevant healthcare professional . The referral process includes a visit to the Centre, agreeing relevant areas of support to be offered by the Centre which leads to the preparation of an Internal Care Plan. Service users are offered a maximum of two full days attendance at the Centre (although educational courses are exempt from this limit). 

In 2009/10, the Centre provided places for up to 140 people living in the north of Co Durham through a Service Level Contract with Durham County Council Adults, Wellbeing and Health. In addition, there was a further 20 places for people from other areas of County Durham through 'spot purchase' arrangements.

In partnership with the Council the charity focuses on  providing services to adults living in the community who are experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties. These services are provided to further the Waddington Street charitable purposes for the public benefit. Specifically these aims and objectives are as follows:

AIMS

• To deliver effective support and provide meaningful opportunities, primarily through training and education, to people living in the community with mental heal needs
• To support personal development and recovery, reduce social isolation and extend social exclusion
• In carrying out the above, meeting the intended outcomes within the Outcome Indicators Framework for Mental Health Day Services

OBJECTIVES

• To encourage people's abilities and strengths to fulfil potential
• To encourage people to re-enter and participate in their own community
• To offer effective support and meaningful opportunities for people through training and education
• To provide new opportunities and life skills
• To encourage service users to become independent of the service by promoting recovery pathways in partnership with external to Centre service providers

Other Facilities and Services

Service users receive a wide range of personal support from paid and volunteer staff and peer support from other service users on a day to day basis. External to Centre support through our statutory and voluntary sector partners - including the Durham County Council Welfare Rights Unit, Job Centre Plus and ASC (Advice, Support and Counselling) at New College - help with the resolution of health and social services issues, the taking up of volunteering, welfare benefit advice, further training opportunities and access to advocacy.
 
The centre owns an 8 berth caravan sited at Amble which is available to service users for low-cost holidays. It is well equipped and very handy for the beautiful Northumberland coastline. The caravan season is from May to November and can be booked through the Centre.

The Centre also provides Supported Housing/Floating Support to Services Users who require extra support setting up a home etc. There is also a Health Trainer based at Waddington Street Centre who provides support for Service Users in accessing physical activities and courses to increase the physical health of the Service User. For more information on Supported Housing, Floating Support or the Health Trainer please go to the relevant section in the list to the left. The Centre has its own mini-bus for group visits and outings.