Our Service Team

I try to give people with mental health problems more confidence in themselves, helping them to recover and to enjoy living in the community. I have been at Sevenoaks Area Mind for 8 years, where we have a great team who have remained focused on the individual throughout the many changes in the mental health system.

I have a lifelong commitment to helping disadvantaged and vulnerable people – who are often isolated – in becoming more fully integrated into the community. An aspect of my work is helping to breaking the barriers people often face as they try to rebuild their lives. By using our facilities and programs, people are supported in this process and can move towards realising their full potential.

Sevenoaks Area Mind is an organisation which supports individuals to achieve a quality of life and lead independent, active lives. These are values which I share and fully support, and I enjoy working in a community organisation together with residents and other workers.

My own experience of mental illness drew me to this work. When I was very ill, Sevenoaks Area Mind helped me to rebuild my life and gave me the confidence I needed to gain employment. It is so rewarding, as part of the Housing team, to support our residents in developing friendships, activities, employment, and healthy lifestyles.

I’ve worked in mental health for over 10 years, and for the last 3 years I’ve been supporting our residents in developing their full potential and their capacity for independent living in the wider community. I also promote their right to equality. As an organisation Sevenoaks Area Mind is forward thinking, supportive, and values its staff – they are a great employer to work for!

It’s great to work for an organisation that I believe in and that I feel valued by. Here I am able to use my natural ability as a people-person in meeting many different people and, at times, helping them to see that they are far more than just their mental health problems. I also enjoy the new challenges that can arise at any time!

It’s very important to really listen to people with mental health problems, as no-one can be helped until they have been heard. At Sevenoaks Area Mind I am learning about all the different ways we can listen to people, through support groups, activities, befriending and counselling.