The Old School Community Gathering Place

Our Summer Spotlight is The Old School Community Gathering Place, the umbrella organization for Eastern Shore Mental Health (ESMH), an initiative that provides individual peer support, a peer support group, opportunities to participate in WRAP training, bereavement supports, and other support to community members with lived experience with mental health challenges.

Learn more about The Old School Community Gathering Place, read our Q & A with Karen Bradley.

Details:

• Website: http://www.theoldschool.ca/
• Contact: Karen Bradley | Phone: 902-889-2735
• What communities do you serve?  Our catchment area includes Lake Echo to Ship Harbour.
• Can we find your organization on social media? Yes. We are on Facebook at OldSchoolMH and Instagram at oldschoolm.

Tell us about your organization.

Our purpose is to promote the health, well-being and community spirit of community members in Musquodoboit Harbour and the surrounding area through programs and events based in arts and culture. Our objectives are to;

To provide, administer and maintain a multi-use facility for the community of Musquodoboit Harbour and surrounding area (Lake Echo to Ship Harbour).

• To provide instructional seminars on topics related to wellbeing, art, and culture.
• To identify gaps in community services and programming, and attempt to fill those gaps.
• To educate youth by providing leadership training programs and workshops.

1. How would you describe the ways in which your organization supports the mental health and wellbeing of the Nova Scotians you serve?

The Old School is the umbrella organization for Eastern Shore Mental Health (ESMH), an initiative that provides individual peer support, a peer support group, opportunities to participate in WRAP training, bereavement supports, and other support to community members with lived experience with mental health challenges.

The last few years we’ve been fortunate to receive funding to address mental health, allowing us to offer two ASSIST training sessions to volunteers and staff of local community organizations and churches over the last year. Most of our staff have participated in Mental Health First Aid, which is also a certification provided to our Youth Employment Skills Strategy program.

We are also able to support clients and youth interns to mental health support when needed and provide material assistance (gas cards, community transportation) to help community members overcome barriers to access.

2. What is one program your organization offers that you wish more people knew about?

One program that we are trying to promote is new and addresses the social determinants of health. We have a community pantry, the use of which is increasing, and are offering a program called TGIF Club (Transportation, Gardening, Information, and Finances).

Club members have access to:

• The Food Pantry: Offers an assortment of fresh produce and canned goods.
• Financial Literacy: Information beyond basic budgeting and navigation of opportunities.
• Grief/Bereavement: Support to deal with complicated feelings around loss.
• Surefooted Program: Nature walks.
• Community Garden: A free garden bed with supplies and instructions.
• Transportation is available if needed.

The Surefooted Program is our newest offering. Over the years, we had become acutely aware of the need for programming that included time spent in nature. With generous funding from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia’s Community Grant, we will be offering a 12-week program that includes regular nature walks with a trained guide, support with setting personal goals, and keeping a journal.

3. How and why was your organization first founded?

Our organization was founded in 2010 when a group of community members learned that the old community school became available. They formed a coop, purchased the building and began an arts and culture centre for the community. Over time our activities evolved into what we do today. Our facility itself is a special site in the community and was built in 1924 as a cutting edge, rural Nova Scotian school facility. Many of our clients who are from the area came to school here.

4. What have been the main challenges your organization has faced while trying to meet the needs of the community you serve?

Our main challenge is not having access to core/operational funding which would allow us to hire an executive director.

5. How is your organization looking to grow or expand in the future?

We are searching for a way to be able to support an executive director position. We have started to move into the area of housing after becoming aware during the pandemic of increasing rates of houselessness in our area. We have developed plans for a housing cooperative, have secured land, and are seeking funding to contract a project manager and begin construction.

Another vision of the Old School is to be an incubator for other local initiatives.

6. What are some ways that people interested in your organization can get involved or otherwise support your work?

People interested in our organization can take part in our programming, volunteer with our community pantry, our Pride Committee or our Visiting Buddies Volunteer Visitor program. There is also room for people to get involved at the board level or for particular events. We’re also always interested in hearing about people’s ideas for events, activities, programs or services.

8. Can you share a story that demonstrates the impact of the work you do at your organization?

At the Old School, we strive to offer wrap around supports to community members and see much value in the concept of social prescribing. We recognize the importance of building community, helping community members grow their social networks and decrease isolation.

About nine months ago, we were visited by a community member who had never been to the Old School before. Her husband had died within a month of her first visit to us, when she was referred by a staff member of our local library. We introduced her to our programming and she decided to try out our Visiting Buddies Volunteer Visitor Program, where we match volunteers with isolated older adults, and our Enhance Through Dance program, a movement therapy program based on research done around the benefits of movement and music for people with Parkinson’s diagnoses.

Once this volunteer was matched with a couple in the community for the Visiting Buddies program, she recognized that they would benefit from participating in our Enhance Through Dance program and invited them along. Since then, our volunteer’s health situation has changed, and she found herself unable to volunteer and in need of one herself. We matched her with a volunteer so she could receive visits and the couple are still attending Enhance Through Dance, where they have established relationships with the other participants and staff at the Old School.

About Spotlight:

The mission of the Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division [CMHA NS] is to ensure all Nova Scotians experience good mental health and well-being.

We recognize that our mission is broad, and that we cannot and will not achieve it alone.

To better meet the mental health needs of all Nova Scotians we are connecting with organizations that are reflective and supportive of Nova Scotians’ diverse experiences, identities and histories, and contribute to the overall well-being of our province with the goal of using our digital platforms to highlight the work of these organizations, increase awareness and help more Nova Scotians get the help they need.

Questions?

Contact Lindsay Miller at [email protected]