Who Can Benefit

Lothlorien welcomes applications from people who are experiencing mental health or psychological problems and who feel that living as part of a therapeutic community would be of benefit in helping to address the issues which affect their lives.

In choosing new community members, we will consider people who are:

  • open to personal development and change in their lives
  • able to take responsibility for themselves and to live with others with an attitude of respect and co-operation
  • willing to join in the daily programme to the best of their ability
  • competent in basic living skills and are able to attend to their own personal care, as we do not provide support in this area
  • able to share the same living space without causing distress or harm to others
  • prepared to link in with the statutory mental health services and comply with any agreed treatment plans
  • able to manage their own medication

The minimum age for joining the community is 21.

The maximum stay is normally two years but longer stays may be offered according to individual need. We expect community members to commit themselves to a minimum stay of 6 months when they join the community after completing their two week trial visit.

We cannot normally be an alternative to acute hospital admission for those in crisis.

We are unable to offer respite stays, except to former members of the community.

Applications will not be considered from those with a history of risk to others such as aggression, violence, verbal abuse, serious harm caused, sexually inappropriate behaviours, convictions for violent and sexual offences, threats to harm others, arson/fire setting, incidents involving the Police, stalking and harassment, risk to children. We are unable to accept applications from those whose primary problem is drug or alcohol abuse.