“I can now see myself getting back to work, I am looking forward to my future and getting stronger”
Rise2Thrive Trailblazer is a programme designed to improve people’s health, confidence, skills, circumstances and ultimately their employability, moving them closer towards a position where they are thriving in their life and in work.
The programme is delivered through a partnership of 35 hyper-local voluntary and community sector organisations, all with different specialisms, based across the breadth of York and North Yorkshire. Today we share, Sophie’s story. Sophie has worked with two of our partners, Mindful Photography and Coterminous CIC on her journey through the programme.
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What brought you to Rise2Thrive Trailblazer?
I was recovering from a health condition & unable to work. I was feeling very isolated and suffering with high anxiety, severe physical pain & low mood. I was searching on the internet for something I could do that was low stress and provided a safe, welcoming space. I stumbled across Rebecca & a Mindful Photography introduction to mindful photography meetup for women. When I met Rebecca at this meeting, I talked to her about some of the issues I was having and she instantly mentioned the Rise2thrive programme and provided me with details.
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What activities have you taken part in?
I have completed the online Introduction to Mindful Photography & Therapeutic Photography courses that Rebecca ran. I also attend some of Rebecca’s in person sessions, which has included a visit to Barley Hall, York & meetings at Museum Gardens.
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What Impact has it had on your life?
A massive one! I can’t thank Rebecca & her sessions enough. I was very lost & scared when I first came to a session. I was struggling to find supportive medical intervention & treatment for my health condition and as a result was feeling very low & lacking confidence. I had a complete lack of control on my life, limited support & empathy, or understanding, from others & was isolated. Rebecca’s sessions helped me “get out of my head”. I constantly focused on my pain and started to notice in the session “hey, I haven’t thought about my pain for abit” and gradually moved away from doing this.. At first it may just have been a few seconds, but then it was minutes & even sessions that I wasn’t think/fixating on my pain. They were the first activities I was actually able to feel content & comfortable in for a long time since struggling with my health & pain. This had a snowball effect & I began to build my confidence from there & do more stuff out of the house. I am now able to get public transport & have started to some volunteer work as a photographer for Oxfam, which I am really enjoying. At one point I thought I would be not be able to work again but, although I am still not at the right stage, I can see myself getting back to work & am looking forward to my future & getting stronger! I am so pleased with my progress & believe, when a lot of things weren’t helping me, making that first step in going to Rebecca’s session really changed a lot for me.
I found the impact of that mindful photography had on my mental health amazing! It gave me control, it helped me reflect and bring some of my issues to light. I created a photograph, as part of one the online Therapeutic photography projects, which enabled me to visualised my pain, enabling me to “see” it and share with people. This was so powerful when I felt that no one understood my pain or could “see” it. I still look at that photo now and gives me massive strength- it helps me to accept my pain. I have attached my self portrait of my pain.
Mindful photography has given me a tool & a much loved hobby that I can turn to that helps me feel in control, calm & content. I have kept in touch with a couple of the people I have met during sessions and made some solid friendships which has been amazing. I meet weekly with one friend to go for a walk & take photos together.
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What has been your favourite part of the programme?
• Meeting Rebecca who I think is amazing and has always made me feel listened to, heard & that I matter (even when i haven’t believed it myself).
• Meeting CJ & all the practical support he has given has been fantastic i.e helping me fill out various forms & being more organised, signposting me to Converge.
• Participating in the therapeutic online photography course was a definite highlight in which I felt I connected to myself & other people in a really positive way. It also gave me a way to think about the things that were worrying me in a gentle supportive way! I learnt so much from this course and “found myself” a bit. I enjoyed creating the image of my pain for this course (please see attached) and it help me so much.
• Meeting the people I have and making friends.
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What’s next?
I am so happy with my progress and have begun to organise my time and build a weekly routine around volunteering & other courses/commitments. I plan to carry on with my photography and have created a pexels account as an outlet for creativity & a way to share some of my images ( https://www.pexels.com/@sophie-caroline-2160616927/) I am really enjoying this and managing well (although tired!) I am aiming to take gradual steps back into paid employment.
Much thanks to CJ & Rebecca who have helped me turn things around- I would not be in the position I am today without them!
Post by Hannah Prole
Head of Impact
Hannah is our Head of Impact at Better Connect. Her role is to show the impact that Better Connect, our programmes and partnerships are making in many different ways such as through case studies, social media, our website, networking, events and presentations. Hannah is passionate about creating positive environments that people feel safe to be themselves in, especially at work.
Hannah loves meeting new people and hearing their stories, really getting to know why people are the way they are and why they do what they do.
Hannah loves being creative and getting into ‘flow’ with her work. She loves making things and being involved in the creative process. Hannah loves working for Better Connect because she gets to have variety in her role and appreciates the positive culture and focus on wellbeing.
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