I’ve been a Lifecraft member for a number of years and it has helped me to keep going. I have made new friends and am now in a place where I can use my experiences to support others.
My GP suggested that I first come to Lifecraft for peer support. I’d been struggling with my mental health for years, was taking medication and accessing all the NHS support that was available to me, but I needed something more.
I didn’t know anyone at Lifecraft when I first came along, but quickly got to know a few people. I started talking to one person in particular at an exercise class and they are now one of my closest friends. We began attending the social club together, which was good because it got me out of the house and I enjoyed the conversations and games. I now have quite a few members who I would call good friends and we regularly do activities together.
Since joining Lifecraft it hasn’t all been plain sailing and I have continued to experience severe depression, which resulted in a lot of time off from my previous job and a few visits and a stay in hospital. However, Lifecraft has really helped me over the years, to rebuild my mental health and confidence. I honestly think that without the support of Lifecraft I wouldn’t still be here. It’s a great place, with great supportive people who look after each other and simply just care.
“Lifecraft has really helped me over the years to rebuild my mental health and confidence. I honestly think that without the support of Lifecraft I wouldn’t still be here.”
I am now both a member at Lifecraft and an employee which isn’t always easy to manage, but I get to enjoy doing activities with the other members and have a very supportive employer. Working for Lifecraft allows me to give back to the people who helped me and to help others in the same situation I was in. They are a great employer who really care about their staff and the members. They encouraged me to be more involved even when I was unwell, and this support meant a lot to me and helped me to get myself well and to move forward when I felt stuck. I now lead the Ely and Fulbourn hubs and this means the world to me, and I can see the difference we make to people day in and day out.
I would recommend Lifecraft to anyone struggling with their mental health as their ethos of offering peer support and creativity activities can and will help to rebuild confidence and self-esteem. Lifecraft is led by its members, and they are involved in all areas of the charity, their opinions matter.