An award winning social enterprise supporting mental health and wellbeing across the life span.

This Is Life: D

August 20, 2018
Ever had days whereby you just can't cope? It's all too much? What happens when your a 52 year old woman caring for your parents who have dementia and live in sheltered housing. Your children have moved out and got on with their lives, but you're stuck in a 3 bed house being charged bedroom tax. Letters come in demanding money, but because of that mental breakdown you had 20 years ago, you never really did recover. You feel inferior to the 'authorities' and just don't understand Job Centre Plus Universal Credit. It's worse when you are scared of your Work Coach because they share a surname with someone you fear. Your best friend has died, your family are passing away around you and you are all alone.
This is D's story, I met her tonight. I was driving home and a friend rung me to say they found someone collapsed outside of Pitsea station who was homeless. I took her for a coffee and something to eat. BUT SUBWAY would not let me off 30p to get her a sub - I had no money on me, I explained what I was trying to get this lady help. We live in a sad world when money is more important than humanity!!

Anyway, it was 7.30pm so I phoned Shelter - phones were busy. I phoned streetlink and they could come out in one to three days. I phoned Basildon Borough Council out of hours team - which said they were closed. I looked at HARP Southend which I couldn't find an out of hours number, but my friend who works there said phone shelter or streetlink and sent me the links. I then phoned the police, whilst I was on hold two officers entered Subway, I asked them. They gave me outdated Basildon Winter scheme.

At this point I was crying. It has been 20 years since I was homeless, but I have now realised how privileged I was living in a London Borough. Having car/sofa surfed my way onto the streets I slept on the steps of Romford YMCA. I think it was three nights until they found me a room. But someone was there for me.

What happens when you have mental capacity but are broken by life. What happens when you are not mentally unstable but your wellbeing is subzero.

I could not leave this lady, her eyes were haunting with pain. You can't leave someone on the street that is so vulnerable it breaks my heart. I rang round friends, none could help. I couldn't bring her back to mine (God I thought about it) because of Safeguarding and I'd lose everything and that would stop me doing what I do. So, I was prepared to sleep with her on the streets until I could get her help in the morning. But when we went to move, she said she couldn't and there was pain. So, I phoned 111, I explained the situation - it was likely that lack of food and self-care was more of a factor than an a medical emergency but after an assessment felt it best to send an ambulance. The crew that turned up were lovely, after the assessment they felt a mental health assessment was unlikely to happen, but because of her raised heart-rate (likely anxiety) they could take her in for tests and observations. At least she will be safe for tonight, even if it is in a waiting room. Tomorrow, although apprehensive D has agreed to speak to HARP Southend and seek advice and guidance from Peabody.

Tonight this is all I can do to raise awareness of the broken souls that fall through the net. This is not humanity, this is not how people should be treated. We can do better. We can change the system if we talk about the gaps. We can make a difference if we pull together.

This poor lady is going to break and has no-one looking out for her. Let's change that for her and for thousands of others.
 

2017 Already!?

January 9, 2017

2017, life’s next chapter. Got to be honest 2016 was nothing to write home about. It was filled with re-lived past trauma, which scrabbled my brain. Unhappiness took a firm hold as I was lost in my own darkness. Nightmares re-emerged from a twenty-five year sleep, and I was trapped. However, I am very lucky to say I have the best friends, they supported me and said all the right things which all helped. But, what broke that helpless cycle though was a new person that entered my life, with b...


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Parkrun Pulse of Life

February 20, 2016
Now if you have read my previous 'Sugar Free Transformation', or 'Mind, Mouth, Muscle' blog series you would know that in Jan 2015 I embarked on transforming my life physically. The first thing I did for myself was join Parkrun - a international Saturday morning timed 5k event held in my local park. I had stumbled on it months before and had met the lovely organiser Tracey Bliss. She assured me that the lack of my ability to run (or even barely walk) was not a problem. That Parkrun was in loc...
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Tick, tock.

February 7, 2016
Oh my, where does the time go? October, really was my last blog?! Life really does go at the blink of an eye. That's why we should make the most of every moment and cherish those happy memories. Work has taken over my life just recently, which is a double edged sword. Fantastic because Motivated Minds is growing, faster than I ever dreamed. Sour because there does not seem to be enough hours in the day, and that is my excuse for losing my focus on me, and my health journey. 

Sugar has crept in...
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Off with my head!

October 11, 2015
My journey into improved physical health has been amazing. Having being a size 24 at the start of the year to now being a size 14 all my dreams have come true. The result is a confident, sexy lady who can wear almost anything. Shopping is a breeze, no more 'fat' shops for me. The clothes I want to wear, I can. My body matches, for the first time in 20 years how I see myself. Better still my fitness / strength is amazing. My recent 'Good Morning Britian' #ToughMums challenge on the Tough Mudde...
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