Crossways Community is a Christian charity which has been working for better mental health in the community in and around the Tunbridge Wells area for over 55 years.
We are the leading provider in West Kent of residential and supported living accommodation for adults with moderate to severe mental health problems.
We also give back to our local community through a number of projects that we subsidise including our café ‘The Kitchen Table’, our therapeutic gardening project ‘Flourish’ and our work in schools delivering a programme of high quality support and advice under the banner of ‘Reboot’.
Lilla Moxham, a Crossways Founder
In the mid-sixties seven people from two different churches living in Croydon responded to what was seen as a growing need. People with mental health problems were coming to their churches but apart from encouragement and support, there was very little practical help that could be given. Together, these seven Christians formed Crossways Trust. Initially, two adjoining houses were rented offering accommodation for up to six people. Two of the founders moved in to be alongside those being supported. Crossways Trust became a Registered Charity in 1967, the driving principle being healing of the whole person in body, mind and spirit and ultimately if achievable, care for all ages.
In 1971 Crossways moved to Tunbridge Wells, opening up a registered care home. Over the next two decades, further properties were purchased providing a range of accommodation. In 1991 the organisation’s name changed to Crossways Community reflecting the support offered to people who live at Crossways. Our houses are places where people can come, feel accepted and gain insight into their lives; a safe place where people can grow and develop, gaining confidence.
In 1995 our supported living accommodation was built in a quiet area of Tunbridge Wells just a short walk from the town centre, purposely designed with a mixture of separate space and shared areas plus self-contained flats. In continuing this move towards enabling greater independence, in 2007 we built 6 self-contained independent flats in the grounds of this accommodation.
Staff at the care home and supported accommodation work within national care and support standards to ensure that residents receive appropriate care to meet their needs. There is regular contact with professionals such as psychiatrists, community psychiatric nurses and social workers, to ensure that each resident’s mental health needs are cared for. For many residents, the life skills and friendships developed whilst living in a nurturing community is a stepping stone to achieving longer-term stable mental health.
Crossways Community always endeavours to operate under the sound biblical principles of respect, honesty, integrity and the valuing of everyone as an individual. These principles underpin all that we do and inspire or hearts towards serving God and vulnerable people through our work.
Residents' needs are regularly prayed for amongst our staff teams, and we hold an optional chapel/reflection time each week to focus on God and His goodness to us. As well as required care and support standards, Crossways' core focus is on the practical demonstration of the love of Jesus, with the knowledge that His love can transform people and make them whole.
We are inspired by the love of God and the example of Jesus Christ to:
Crossways Community provides a caring and supportive rehabilitation and recovery service to adults experiencing enduring mental health difficulties. It is our duty to ensure the welfare and protection of any adult who accesses our services.
Crossways Community is committed to the belief that the protection of all people from harm and abuse is everybody’s responsibility and aims to ensure that all those associated with working for the organisation act appropriately in response to any concern around adult abuse.
Crossways Community provides compulsory safeguarding training for all staff and higher levels of training to Managers and our Safeguarding Lead. Our Trustees are also fully committed to these safeguarding principles and undergo training appropriate to their role.
As an organisation, we are aware of the mental health challenges facing our community and our beneficiaries, and are ambitious to rise to that challenge. Going forward we want to be a dynamic, ambitious, successful charity reaching more people and also reaching more deeply into our community. To achieve this, we want to continually improve what we are doing well and build on that in new and exciting ways.
Our Strategic Priorities are:
