Clients
MY STORY – BY JOHN WILLCOCKS
My 4 years at Colebrook started in May 2007. This is my journey……………….
I have learning difficulties and Mental health issues, I also have physical needs.
Before I came to Colebrook, I was struggling on my own with cooking, reading and writing, keeping myself safe. I was very low and anxious. I was crying for help. I was referred to Colebrook by the Westbourne Unit.
One of my first memories was meeting with Emma Drury (Deputy Manager) who told me I could have support with Colebrook. I had mixed feelings about it at first as I had never had the experience of having support workers. I had always struggled on my own
.
I have had various support workers over the 4 years. Chris Hancock, Joella Dent, Mike Baggley and Paula Collier. My support workers have supported me with lots of things over the years – emotional support, Mental Health issues, Appointments, budgeting, reading and writing, cooking, confidence building, Healthy living.
My week is fulfilled with different things each day , I volunteer at Mind, Ridleys, St Luke’s Hospice Shop and go to college to study English and Maths once a week. I have several achievement / training certificates that I have received from Ridleys and Mind. My placement at Mind and Ridley’s help me understand my Mental Health and Learning Difficulties. I also attend a support group with Westbourne called Independent Living. I have several hobbies, these are listening to music, walking, swimming, social activities, and going away and visiting friends. I have also been on several trips with Colebrook. Over the years with my support I have gained the confidence to do all the above things that I couldn’t do before.
I would just like to thank everyone who has been involved in my support over the last 4 years.
JOHN WILLCOCKS
A message from former client Rob Cullum
This is way overdue but I am resettled now and feel it is time to convey my thanks to Colebrook for the way they have helped me in my recovery from a breakdown. In particular I would like to thank Mike Roberts, Derrick Taylor and Sam Harvey, my support workers. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for these guys. Colebrook, I feel helped me so much in keeping me stable and proactive. They gave me hope for the future. I sincerely hope that you guys get all the funding you deserve this year so that you are help to continue to help clients in the way that you helped me. I am so pleased that I have been able to remain friends with Colebrook and some of its clients I grew close to whilst being supported. Colebrook was influential in me volunteering at Glenbourne as an advocate (had to bury a few demons there!), and becoming a PIPS rep.
I just want you to pass on my grateful thanks to the support workers I have mentioned, together with Paula, who I got to know intermittently through trips like Thorpe Park, and to say thank you to those in Colebrook who got to know me from the top (Des) down. You have all had more influence in turning my life around than you realise!
Love you all
Rob
PS if there is anything I can do for you at anytime (even from this distance), please do not hesitate to let me know.
Groundworks
My name is Andrew Boswell. I have been working with Groundworks between five and six months, in this time myself and others have created a pathway in Whitley Woods which I have enjoyed doing and meeting new friends. The project we have just finished is called the Jigsaw, which is next to Drakes Circus in town, this area is for people to sit, relax and have picnics. I felt so proud when the group and I had photos taken on the Grand opening day.
Skydiving!
I am Dianalee age 29. It all started in December 2008 when I embarked on a journey of recovery from alcohol and drugs. I did 6 weeks in a detox in Plymouth and 1 year at an all women’s rehab. It was a golden opportunity to turn my life around so I took and grasped hold of it and used the support I received to the best of my ability. Then I came to leave treatment and came to Colebrook (Amity). I have been at Amity since 18th January 2010. I have changed, I go to a lot of workshops. I really like Amity it is very good the staff and clients are very nice and I decided to do a skydive for Longreach – the rehab I went to – which I did on the 4th June 2010. I truly believe in the rehab which started my journey and I wanted to give something back. It was an amazing experience to undertake. Amity staff and clients supported me to do the skydive and sponsorship and they paid for the coach and staff and clients came to support me. I am really truly grateful for the support I have received and when I got on to the plane it was an amazing experience and falling out at 120mph was amazing. I was in the sky falling and I still cannot believe that I did it but it was a tremendous thing and Amity is a great place. I get on with everyone and I am glad to have the support to carry on with my journey of recovery which means a lot. I just want to say thank you to all of Colebrook.
Here are some comments from our clients:
Geoff Marks
“Colebrook has been there from the beginning when I lost my CPN.
“TMS support with direct payment has given me motivation, personal choice, helped me deal with issues at the surface and helped me to understand forms”
“The loyalty of this support and punctuality of TMS staff and manager is good – it’s a new service and once things have been ironed out it will be a helpful and friendly support group”
Daniel Raven
“I like having TMS as it enables me to get out and do positive things I enjoy like discos, playing pool and telling jokes to my friends and I love meeting new people! “
Rob Patton (after being supported by TMS to go on a climbing & abseiling trip organised by Colebrook Housing Society)
“That was really good; I really enjoyed climbing up on the rocks and abseiling down. When I climbed up to the top I was thinking I wanted to…. make some friends, meet some people. I would like to something like this for charity like climbing a mountain for epilepsy. I want to raise some money.”
From Jason and Phillippa Read
"I and my wife have recently had to move house, we had to do it really quickly as we had a water leak in the old house that need sorting. Due to our difficulties we needed support with packing the house up, moving and then sorting the new house the other end. We received support from Colebrook housing society, social services and Plymouth city council.
The support we received from Colebrook has been very helpful, they were very supportive in our move. They helped to pack our house and supported me to throw unwanted items away.
Colebrook are continuing to support both my wife and myself within our home, they are supporting us to unpack boxes, throw rubbish out, take unwanted items to charity and to get our house sorted.
Colebrook also supports us both with our enabling, which means we can get out and about without each other and enjoy our own activities.
Colebrook have been very understanding, caring and fair. I feel I can use my enabling support time for what I like to do.
Phillippa said that she feels the support she receives is good. She is able to do what she likes to do in her support time e.g. cooking and shopping. Phillippa said she finds Colebrook helpful and supportive.
Over all we are both happy with the support we receive from Colebrook and hope it continues".