It has become a tradition for employees and members from Kildehuset to take a trip to Skallerup Seaside Resort. This time, a group of 15 members and three employees went on a three-day stay filled with joy, presence, and experiences.

– For our members, the donation means that they can go on a trip they otherwise would not have had the opportunity for. Many livea lonely life without resources to travel alone. They are either on sick leave, social assistance, or early retirement and have a very limited economy, says Manuela Kjeldgaard, who is the chairperson of the Support Association at Kildehuset.

A community without pressure

Kildehuset on Anders Mørchs Vej in Nørresundby is a day service for people with mental challenges. Here, you are not a patient, but a member.

– It is not appropriate for people with mental challenges to be met with demands. Kildehuset is a voluntary offer, and that means no one feels pressured. You can come to the house as you wish, and it is a safe environment to be in, says Manuela Kjeldgaard.

Kildehuset has around 250 members, of which about 70 use the service each month. The members are part of a work community with the house's employees and take on tasks related to the operation. Through community, structure, and recognition, Kildehuset helps people develop skills and gain more energy in everyday life. For Manuela Kjeldgaard, being part of the community at Kildehuset has been very significant.

– I became a member in 2015, after I had experienced a depression and suffered from social anxiety. At first, I mostly stayed in the garden, but gradually it got better. I felt safe in the community and experienced that the employees gave me loving nudges and a helping hand, she recounts.

Manuela Kjeldgaard has greatly enjoyed coming to Kildehuset.

Over time, she developed a mental strength so she could show new members and representatives from Aalborg Municipality around the house. Later, she became a substitute in the cafeteria at Musikkens Hus, and today she has a permanent job there, while also volunteering in the Support Association seeking funding and organizing activities.

– I have grown mentally since I walked through the doors ten years ago,” she states today.