Club-funded Sunny Place helps put ex-mentally ill back on road to independence

26 September 2009

Jockey Club Sunny Place, a new facility to broaden Hong Kong's range of community rehabilitation services for the ex-mentally ill, has been opened in Tai Po thanks to a HK$3.14 million donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.  Officiating guests at the opening ceremony today (26 September) included the Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu; Assistant Director (Rehabilitation & Medical Social Services) of the Social Welfare Department Cecilia Yuen; and Chairman of the Executive Committee of The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, Dr Lo Tak-lam.

The Club has always given a high priority to supporting medical and public health projects, including those aimed at promoting mental health.  Mr Yiu noted that although a number of halfway houses exist to help former mental patients re-integrate into the community, they can only stay there for two to three years.  ''Jockey Club Sunny Place provides an alternative residential care option for the ex-mentally ill, based on limited staff support and greater autonomy for the residents,'' he explained.  ''Not only does this help them build their self-confidence for returning to community life, it also helps release subvented places in halfway houses to meet the needs of more severely ill patients.''

Operated by The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, Jockey Club Sunny Place is located at Tai Po Kwong Fuk Estate.  The self-financing apartment provides 16 places for ex-mentally ill people, replicating a home environment.  Residents are responsible for preparing their own meals and cleaning the apartment. They will also learn skills in money management, goal setting and social networking, which encourage them to start living independently again.  Sunny Place will also organise volunteer training programmes and public education events to enhance public awareness of mental health and acceptance of re-integrating the ex-mentally ill into community life.

125th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is celebrating its 125th Anniversary in 2009/10 season.  Over the past 125 years, it has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.