Recovery and Employment Coaching at Bridewell
Bridewell’s Recovery and Employment coach, is available to meet with people one to one at any stage during their time at the gardens. Some people know exactly what they're working towards, returning to work or education perhaps, or taking up a voluntary role in a local community organisation. But everyone's circumstances and recovery is different.
Meeting with Katie can be a chance to begin talking about your hopes for the future and thinking about how Bridewell can support you to get there.
As well as these individual sessions, Katie, runs a group in the gardens called ‘Beyond Bridewell’ where people discuss ideas and topics around 'next steps' as a group. Meeting monthly at the gardens, these sessions are open to anyone currently accessing the recovery service.
Whilst Bridewell is a very safe and inspiring place – we encourage a focus on what is beyond the walled garden and support people to try something new. People encourage each other just as much as staff and volunteers provide support.
Beyond Bridewell is a supportive and practical group, with a focus on all that is outside the garden. People might bring their experiences of accessing other support, applying for work, or community groups and the sessions provide a forum to generate ideas.
There is often a theme for the session, whether around mental wellbeing or practical issues, for example developing resilience, addressing gaps in your CV, learning about interview techniques. In the group people can also share their worries and fears of taking next steps.
Visitors from other organisations are invited in to talk to the group, for example volunteer co-ordinators of local environmental charities sharing opportunties for roles nearby, or a contact from the Department for Work & Pensions to discuss changes in benefits and managing changes to income.
The group also share personal experiences such as ‘living with autism’, ‘my diagnosis’, 'what it was like at school coping with a mental illness', successes and struggles. Each person can decide if they want to talk and what they're comfortable sharing with the group. In Beyond Bridewell you don’t have to come and talk, so if people want to simply come and be present and listen, they can.
It’s really helpful to hear other people's experiences.
Part of Katie’s role involves working in the community and building up relationships with like-minded agencies, charities and groups looking out for opportunities for volunteering, employment or training.
It is up to each Gardener how much they want to get involved as Katie says:
There is no pressure or expectation, just gentle support and that’s the magic of Bridewell.
