Community Action for Locally Managing Stress (CALMS) launches new premises

Community Action for Locally Managing Stress (CALMS) launched their new centre in Derry at a special celebratory event.

This event was very well attended, including five MLAs and a range of Councillors from different political backgrounds, community and voluntary groups, civil servants, funders and service users. 

Located at 8 Crawford Square, their new home has been funded the by Department for Communities, who contributed a total of £180,000 to make this exciting project a reality.

Also in attendance on the day were Mr Tony Murphy, Department for Communities and Mr Andrew Walker of Victims & Survivors Service, who continue to provide ongoing support to CALMS. 

The new building will not only allow CALMS to better serve their clients, but also to expand our programmes and services. The centre sits in a beautiful and historic location, offering the perfect opportunity to place our work in a strong and vibrant community. 

Tony Murphy, Head of Community Empowerment Division at Department for Communities, said: “CALMS provides essential services to the people of the city and beyond.  It has a long history of providing support, advice and practical assistance to those in need, including people from some of our most deprived and marginalised communities.

“I know that a project of this scale needs people who have a vision and have the determination and commitment that it takes to make things happen and this building is a credit to everyone involved. The Department is delighted to have been able to fund a facility that will make such a difference to those providing critical services and those who come to it for help and support.”

CALMS intends to bring a contemporary look to the new centre, whilst remaining sympathetic to this location and paying homage to its longstanding roots.

The organisation was established at the end of 1994 following a public meeting at the Guildhall in Derry. It emerged as a tentative response to a need for effective support for people suffering from stress because of the Troubles.

Our mission is “To provide educative, preventative, and rehabilitative programmes and services that empower individuals and organisations to recognise, reduce, and manage stress effectively”.

Our vision is one for the greater Derry area where the dangers and consequences of stress are recognised; people and organisations work to prevent stress; victims and survivors of the conflict who experience stress are helped to cope and therefore not damaged by it; those working in stress and its consequences do so in integrated and collaborative ways.

A range of interwoven programmes and services are offered by CALMS, including counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychological well-being programmes, complementary therapies, creative and physical activities, welfare rights advice, social outings, information seminars and health talks, volunteering, pathways to employment, and research.