Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind

Malcolm becomes a patron of SMART

23 January 2008

A mental health charity at work in K&C

Malcolm Rifkind has become a patron of Saint Mary Abbots  Rehabilitation and Training (SMART), a charity based in the constituency that helps people overcome mental health problems.

SMART provides a range of activities and employment opportunities to those who have difficulty operating without a social support structure. The projects that the charity organises include working in the café (which is open to the public); gardening and floristry; IT training with a qualification at the end of the course; and a packing and sending service that teaches basic manual skills and working in a team.

The aim is to promote mental health by encouraging ‘purposeful’ activity in a relaxed and stimulating environment. Often people with mental health problems lose practical and personal skills because they do not have the opportunities to maintain their abilities. Malcolm is delighted to be supporting this cause and looks forward to seeing the charity go from strength to strength.

Founded in 1985, SMART has supported over 1,500 local people. It is open 365 days a year and has three centres across the borough of K&C.

For further information about the activities that SMART is involved with or to find out about volunteering please visit http://www.smartlondon.org.uk/