News

Yvonne transitions from Recovery Partner to Registered Mental Health Nurse!

This year, Yvonne Smith, a former Recovery Partner, was nominated in the National Lived Experience Awards in the Hope and Positivity category.

You can read her story here - (1) Meet Yvonne Smith, an incredible... - Somerset NHS Foundation Trust | Facebook

and also see an article on the Somerset Foundation Trust website here - Our news - From patient to mental health nurse - Listen to Yvonne's story (tfemagazine.co.uk)

We are all very proud of her and in awe of her journey! A very inspirational woman.

Weymouth Day Out

Mendip Recovery Partners Day Out

19th September 2024

On Thursday 19th September, the Mendip Recovery Partners, encompassing the Frome and Wells groups, had our yearly day out to the seaside. This year we went to Weymouth.

After picking everyone up on the minibus, we arrived at Weymouth by 11.30, to a bright, warm and windy day. A couple of us went off for a coffee, while the others all went to the beach to enjoy the ocean, take pictures, sit and chill and paddle and splash about in the water. Ewen played his guitar, and everyone sat on the beach, or went into the sea, which at Weymouth is very shallow and goes out a long way before getting deeper, which is great for everyone. Luckily most people were sensible enough to bring a change of clothes in case they got wet – which some of us did!

At lunchtime, after drying off and changing clothes, we got out of the wind and had some lovely fish and chips in a restaurant along from the seafront. Everyone was starving after all the sea air and the portions were huge, with plenty for everyone.

After lunch some of us went into town to browse the shops and have a wander, while the rest of us went back to the beach and paddled a little more, making the most of our day in the fresh sea air. It was a lovely relaxing day, and we finished it off with an ice cream before catching the minibus back to Somerset.

Everyone said they had had a brilliant time and can’t wait to do it all again next year.

Review Event

Those of you who were at the Review Event would have seen the video that Luke produced, with help from Jo and Luke's brother, Erik, showing how Co-Production could be done really badly, and then an example of positive Co-Production.

If you would like to see it the link is here - Co-Production Video - it is well worth a watch!

How Ryan is using lived experience of psychosis to support others

Ryan Grant has suffered from Mental Illness for a few years now, and part of his journey has involved becoming a Peer Support Worker with NHS Somerset.

Watch his story here - Ryan's Story (youtube.com)

Here is a link to the Somerset FT NHS website article about Ryan Our news - How Ryan is using lived experience of psychosis to support others (tfemagazine.co.uk)

Connections Meetings

Our fortnightly online Connections Meetings are a chance for us to have our say, to give feedback on any assignments that we have been involved in, and to hear from guest speakers and other Recovery Partners.

It is really important that people attend these meetings - Use it or Lose it! - as it gives people the opportunity to pass on feedback and assignment opportunities to other people in the support group meetings. It also means we can check in with the People Participation Team regularly.

These meetings are on Tuesdays at 2pm every two weeks and all Recovery Partners will have been sent the link.

The People Participation Team send out reminders on the morning of the meeting, so please try and attend as many as you can if you are not busy at that time!