Linda takes the lead

A few years ago, anxiety could make it difficult for Linda to speak to anyone. Today, she co-chairs meetings, has presented to FitzRoy’s Trustees and helps hold the organisation to account.

People who know Linda well describe her as warm and kind-hearted. She enjoys being with others, loves a chat and likes helping people. But for a long time, anxiety made it difficult for Linda to show that side of herself.

At times, her anxiety became so overwhelming that Linda found it difficult to feel settled at home, build relationships or trust that support would be there when she needed it.

Support built on trust

A few years ago, Linda moved from shared accommodation into her own supported living flat with FitzRoy. Sharing a kitchen and living spaces had often added to her anxiety. Having her own place gave Linda greater stability and a secure foundation from which to build her confidence.

Linda’s support team took time to get to know her, earn her trust and support her to take each new step at her own pace.

Service Manager Emma makes sure she spends at least an hour with Linda every week, catching up with her and checking that she is happy and receiving the support she needs.

When Emma first met Linda, Linda would sometimes call her 20 or 30 times a day for reassurance. She was also calling NHS 111 several times a month when she was really struggling, she needed emotional support and to know that someone was there.

Linda still needs that support, particularly when she is feeling anxious, but she has become much more confident. She now generally calls Emma once a week.

Linda says her support team “make my life better” and have “helped me build my confidence”.

Making her voice heard

One of the first opportunities that helped Linda discover what she could do was FitzRoy’s Nationwide forum, where people we support share their views and help hold the organisation to account.

When Emma first took Linda to a Nationwide meeting in Milton Keynes, Linda loved getting involved and became an official Nationwide member. Over the past six months, she has co-chaired meetings and presented directly to FitzRoy’s Trustees.

For someone whose anxiety once made speaking to other people feel impossible, leading meetings and sharing her views with senior decision-makers shows just how much she has changed.

Linda was also part of the panel that interviewed candidates for one of FitzRoy’s Director roles. Another member of the panel was Judith, who is supported by FitzRoy in Hampshire. Linda and Judith became great friends through the experience and now speak regularly on the phone.

Along with activities like volunteering to help design FitzRoy’s Green Champion badges, Linda is making constantly making the most of opportunities to share her ideas, influence decisions and help FitzRoy understand where we need to do better.

Closer to the people who matter

Linda’s support team also helped her reconnect with her daughter and four grandchildren after they had lost touch. Emma helped Linda find her daughter online and supported them to rebuild their relationship, Linda loves having her grandchildren back in her life.

Her home has now brought her closer to more of the people who matter to her too.

Until recently, Linda lived on the top floor of a block of flats around ten minutes away from her best friend, Tracey. Linda has now moved into a flat in Tracey’s building.

The move has made me happy.

And because her new building also has a lift, Linda’s mum – who could not visit her previous flat because there was no lift – will now be able to visit Linda in her new home.

Looking ahead

Linda’s plan now is to become one of FitzRoy’s Quality Checkers. This would allow her to draw on her experiences to help assess the quality of support other people receive.

Emma says:

Watching Linda grow in confidence over the last few years has been amazing. She has built friendships, reconnected with her family and become involved in things she would never have imagined before.

“Seeing her excited about what’s next shows just how far she has come. I’m so proud of her.”

Linda’s growing independence does not mean she no longer needs support. Emotional support remains important, and for Linda, independence means knowing that support is there while having the confidence and opportunities to build relationships and her voice.