A community club at 831 New North Road in Mount Albert, Auckland, for adults with lived experience of mental health issues, known in Māori as tangata whai i te ora. It is a non-clinical, supportive space for creative and social activity. The club began in 1991, in partnership with the Mount Albert Methodist church, after the large mental health institutions in central Auckland closed and care moved into the community. It became an incorporated society in 1992.
The groups are run without any need for prior experience. Current groups include expressive visual arts, Toi Māori art, creative writing, cooking, crafting, and sewing and textiles, and the club says it adds new groups over time. Members can join a tutor-led group or work on their own projects. All art materials are provided, and there is no fee to join. Members can drop in during opening hours.
Customers say the club has a welcoming feel and a good atmosphere, and that they enjoy meeting people with similar experiences. One says the tutors are awesome and that they attend the Tuesday workshops. Another mentions lots of laughs and card board games. One member would like a music and waiata class and more tikanga added. Our pick in Mount Albert for a drop-in creative group.