“I feel proud of myself”
This year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is movement. We spoke to one of our clients about the activities they enjoy and why they find them important.
“I do lots and lots and lots of walking on the seafront. We go to Newhaven and then we walk back, or we walk to town which is about a twenty minute walk. I do that most days.
I also like to swim. I like to do lane swimming. I do maybe about sixty to eighty lengths each time.
My Support Workers go with me and encourage me. Some of them can’t keep up with me in the pool, but one staff member can!
I like doing them because they make me feel good. They make me happy. I feel excited and rested – once I’ve initially got over the out-of-breath bit!
I feel proud of myself. I’m always smiley. I’m a happy person.”
Southdown manages supported living services across Sussex. Supported living is where an individual owns or rents their own home and has control over how they live their life. Accommodation and support is provided separately. It can be very different for different people. For one person, supported living might be a few hours of support a week to enable them to live independently by themselves in a rented flat. For another it may be around the clock support in a shared house or self-contained flat.
This story is part of our Southdown Stories project where we highlight the fantastic and valuable work going on across the organisation whilst raising awareness of the challenges our clients face and challenging social stigma and taboos.