The Recovery College Café now opens six days a week and is staffed by two service users each shift, providing therapeutic earning opportunities to service users across all wards at the hospital. In our latest blog, Georgia, one of the service users who works in the café shares her own story and reflections of how the Recovery College Café and therapeutic earnings role has made a positive impact on her own health and self-esteem.
My name is Georgia “G”, I’m 25 and currently a service user at Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke, on Knightstone Ward. I’ve been at Cygnet after being diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) and anorexia. My mental health difficulties have impacted my life quite negatively, as you’d guess, but I wanted to share something that has had a positive impact on my health and stability.
This is my experience of working in Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke’s Recovery College Café. The Occupational Therapy team spoke to me about the therapeutic earnings programme and when I first started working in the café I was extremely anxious in different areas of the job role. I couldn’t make hot drinks as I was scared of the heat. I struggled with socialising with everyone and found touching certain things difficult because of my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I’m proud to say I have overcome these challenges. I now make hot drinks as and when needed, I enjoy speaking to customers and colleagues and my OCD struggles have reduced massively.
I have found more purpose in my life and it’s opened so many doors for me, given me lots of opportunities and I’ve seen so much personal growth in myself, thanks to being given this chance to do this amazing job. My social skills especially have improved incredibly, I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to become more confident, believe more in myself and learn more about what I want to do with my life.
I never would have thought this change was possible and I’m hoping with my whole heart the café will continue to take me far. This job means so much to me and I hope to continue along my journey of personal growth and helping people, these two things are really important to me. These days you can throw me in any situation in the café and I’ll deal with it to the best of my ability, I’m so passionate and eager to help the patients while hopefully bringing a smile to their faces whether it’s by getting them a nice drink, snack or having a chat with them.
It definitely makes my day. I always manage better on café days, my shifts are so beneficial to my mental health. It’s taught me so many valuable life lessons and skills. I feel so blessed and thankful to have been given this job as I navigate myself through my recovery journey. I know this will continue to be a key part of my recovery and I can’t wait to see how much further it takes me. I hope my story can inspire others to make steps towards their recovery goals too as I believe these therapeutic job roles can really make a difference.