Fontenehuset i Tromsø

Fontenehuset i Tromsø (literally 'The Fountain House in Tromsø') is a Norwegian work-oriented clubhouse for people with mental health challenges, located centrally in the upper part of Tromsø city centre at Skolegata 37. It was established on 9 June 2006, and its official opening took place on 26 November 2009 after a project period of two and a half years. The clubhouse describes itself as the world's northernmost Fontenehus (Clubhouse). The organisation is a voluntary and inclusive work community for anyone who is or has been mentally ill. Its members and staff support one another towards employment, studies or other personal goals. A core principle is that the house does not focus on illness and does not provide any form of treatment; instead, work is both the method and the goal. Members and staff run the service together by carrying out small and large tasks, following an international Clubhouse model based on voluntariness, necessity and responsibility. Fontenehuset i Tromsø offers a work-oriented day, a low-threshold service, and job and study support. Members can get help finding a job, writing applications, updating a CV or practising for interviews, and can also receive study support. Membership is free and lifelong: members who start working or studying can always continue to use the house. There is no need for a referral or application to begin; the first step is to arrange a tour, after which a person can test whether the offer suits them and then become a member. The main goal of the clubhouse is to help more people with mental health problems and/or substance use problems participate in work-oriented activities and enter ordinary employment. Operations are carried out jointly by members and employees. The model is documented in literature, including the book 'En kilde til vekst: Fontenehuset – et arbeidsfellesskap for mennesker med psykiske utfordringer' by Gro Lien Garbo (ISBN 978-82-303-1999-4). The clubhouse is connected to the international Clubhouse International network.

Fontenehuset i Tromsø was established on 9 June 2006. Its official opening took place on 26 November 2009, following a project period of two and a half years. The clubhouse was created as a work-oriented clubhouse for people with mental health challenges, based on an international Clubhouse model. The model rests on the principles of voluntariness, necessity and responsibility. Operations are carried out jointly by members and employees, and the house does not focus on illness or provide treatment. Instead, work is both the method and the goal, and members and staff run the service together by performing small and large tasks. The main goal is to help more people with mental health problems and/or substance use problems participate in work-oriented activities and enter ordinary employment. Over time the clubhouse has offered a work-oriented day, low-threshold support, and job and study support, with free and lifelong membership so that members who start working or studying can continue to use the house. The Tromsø clubhouse describes itself as the world's northernmost Fontenehus. It is part of the wider Fontenehus/Clubhouse movement connected to Clubhouse International. The model and practice are documented in the book 'En kilde til vekst: Fontenehuset – et arbeidsfellesskap for mennesker med psykiske utfordringer' by Gro Lien Garbo (ISBN 978-82-303-1999-4).

• Fontenehuset i Tromsø was established.

• Official opening of Fontenehuset i Tromsø after a two-and-a-half-year project period.

A voluntary, inclusive work community and clubhouse for people who are or have been mentally ill, focused on work, inclusion and ordinary employment rather than treatment.

• Work-oriented day

  Members and staff run the clubhouse together by doing small and large tasks; work is both method and goal.

• Low-threshold service

  No referral or application is needed to begin; the first step is a guided tour.

• Job and study support

  Help with finding a job, writing applications, updating a CV, practising interviews and study support.

• Free and lifelong membership

  Membership costs nothing, and members who start work or studies can always continue to use the house.

1. 1Fontenehuset Tromsøfontenehuset-tromso.no
2. 2Fontenehuset i Tromsø – Wikipediano.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata Q97199426wikidata.org