Eddie

What support do you receive?

I’ve been visited by Joan (my support worker) for about two and a half / three years. I think I must have been referred by my community psychiatric nurse.

I’ve lived where I am, in my own place, for five years. I was in supported living for four years and before that I was in hospital for three years. Now I’m in my own place. I get support three times a week for an hour or so. And we meet in groups.

What do you think about the support?

We have a good time like, you know. We have coffee mornings, walks, we went for a meal. We walk at least once a month as a group, and meet as a group every Friday. Every two or three weeks we go for a meal, usually in a pub.

The support I get is just emotional now. We used to go shopping once a week, and Joan’d do more stuff for me: I had to get used to cooking and cleaning on my own. I did cook on my own before I got poorly – I’ve always cooked well, I like to eat!

I used to live down in Balham for a bit. That was in the 80s. I worked in a papermill in Wimbledon. I went to stay with my uncle, but I couldn’t get a flat and I didn’t want to stay with him forever, so I came home, well back to Derby.

I’m a lot more outgoing now, you know. A lot more friendly. I talk to people.

What are your hobbies?

I like music and sport. I’ve got a guitar, I’m into the blues and folk – old man's stuff. There’s still people recording and that, but I like the old stuff, the Mississppi Delta stuff. Robert Johnson – if you’ve heard of him – is a brilliant player. 30 years before his time.

What’s for the future?

The last time I worked was in 1995, something like that. I’m trying to get voluntary work first. I’ve been in touch with the council and the NHS to see if I can do something voluntary with them and get a reference. My doctor’ll give me a supporting letter.

I know some of the guys are involved in service user groups, I know why they do it, but it’s not for me. I just want a job. I’ve gotten a lot better and I just need work to round it off.

 

Eddie receives mental health-related floating support in Derby.

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