Small Steps adapting to Covid-19

by guest author Diane Williams
Project Manager, Rekindle

Rekindle's Small Steps Project enjoys a challenge, and this was put to the test with the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown commencing in March. At the start of the lockdown period we recognised some of our current clients were living alone or estranged from family members. We were able to prepare clients for the possible lockdown and were kept busy ensuring they had enough food and medication to reduce any panic. We continued to remain open ensuring we could do so safely following government guidelines to keep everyone safe.

We have worked tirelessly to support every person who has needed it throughout the lockdown, with no two days being the same. Every person who has contacted Small Steps, be it by telephone or visiting our office, has received the support they required. We have turned no one away. 

Despite our criteria being 16 - 25 years old we have allowed some flexibility, with the eldest person to receive our support being 84 years old and shielding. Our support has included a listening ear, support through a crisis, shopping and collecting and delivering medication. We even helped to fix a dog pen to prevent her dog getting free.

It has been a challenging time for everyone with a number of clients experiencing feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety. Without a safe office environment to visit their mental health may have deteriorated further. We recognised not everyone feels comfortable speaking on the phone, or doing a video call, so it has enabled anyone struggling to cope with a mental health concern or a practical problem, no matter what age, to call in and receive the support they need. 

We are looking forward to returning to some normality, for now though we will keep smiling and look forward to each new day whatever it may bring.

Quotes from Small Steps' clients

“During Covid-19 and lockdown Small Steps helped prevent me from being homeless and doing something unpredictable. I was able to avoid being a victim of domestic violence and was able to give my wife the space she needed. 

Before I received support from Small Steps I would not have managed in such a calm manner. I would have acted irresponsiblly, ensuring I get arrested, as this was all I knew to ensure a place to stay and prevent me sleeping on the streets. 

I have gained a different way to cope, remembering to follow and use different coping techniques, and if that does not help I am able to contact Diane or Kemal or a peer support who I can talk to without being judged, and I always feel understood and listened to."

Anon - (24)

“Small Steps have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic no matter how big or small the situation. I myself am incrediblly thankful that they remained open during these difficult times for everyone. 

Diane and Kemal came to see me out of hours on a Sunday after experiencing a domestic violence incident. Without having them to speak to, and keep me positive and my hopes up, finding me a place to stay along with a food parcel, I genuinely don’t know what sort of situation or head space I would be in at present. 

I am forever grateful that this charity exists, I don’t have any family support since being estranged from them so in some way I consider Small Steps to be my second family.”

P.B (19)

Rekindle's Small Steps Project works with younger people aged 16 to 25 in North Powys to offer early intervention for those at risk of mental health problems or those already suffering mental distress such as depression, anxiety or who are self-harming.

Find out more on the charity's website or Facebook pages. You can also ring: 01686 722222 or email: hello@smallsteps.wales

Small Steps at Rekindle - Three Stories

Recovery Practitioner Kemal with a local police officer outside the Newtown centre

John Scott is the chairman of the mental health charity Rekindle in Newtown. At a recent fundraising concert for the charity, which supports young people aged 16 to 25 who are struggling with mental distress, he said:

“The trustees and staff know from experience that early intervention can help many of these young people avoid or recover from the social dislocation that can result from mental illness.

There are more than 110 active clients, and they are referred by all the various agencies in Newtown. There are two full time recovery practitioners (Diane Williams and Kemal Keeble), one of whom is a qualified mental health nurse, and two regular volunteers. They operate from converted shop premises in the centre of Newtown, which makes them accessible to this client group.

Diane (left) with a client

The stories here are examples of what can be done, and there are many more similar ones. The right help at the right time can stop these young people from a possibly irreversible descent into self-destructive behaviour. It is wonderful to see young people starting to enjoy their lives again.”

Jess Foster

At the age of 18 I was living in a homeless hostel and felt there was no use in living any more. I struggled with the pressures of sixth form and trying to earn a living so attempted suicide multiple times. Initially I was under the care of adult services but didn’t feel as though I actually mattered to them and was made to feel as though my problems weren’t bad enough.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to Diane at Small Steps and I was finally on the road to recovery. I was given all the time I needed, whether it be for just a chat or to help me better my life. Feeling like I mattered and being listened to changed my life around.

I stopped self-harming, returned to sixth form, applied for university with Diane’s help and even began caring about my own wellbeing again. When I got my place at university Diane got me a grant so that I was able to buy everything I needed and to any other person I would then look like a typical student, not someone who had just been homeless. I am now graduating this summer, have a job and strong friendships. My life is now at a good point and it’s thanks to all the help and mentorship I had from Diane and Small Steps.

Megan Tudor

My name is Megan Tudor and I am an associate trustee for Rekindle's Small Steps Project. I began as a client of the project when abuse was identified in my family home. I had to leave home and faced the difficulty of finding a roof over my head. Diane and Kemal worked tirelessly to help me and although they came across many difficulties they never gave up on me. I was in a very dark place and tried to end my life on a daily basis; I couldn't find a reason to carry on. I went from living in a horrific environment to only having the clothes on my back and no roof over my head. I was also suffering from an eating disorder and refused to eat or drink anything.

The Small Steps Project was the only organisation that recognised there was abuse and actually listened. I had seen Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), 16+ team, social workers and spent a year in a psychiatric hospital and none of them listened to what I was saying. Diane and Kemal let me have as much time as I needed and listened to every word I said and actually did something about it. I was supported on a daily basis to stay alive on top of trying to find stable accommodation.

I was supported by the Small Steps Project to find a reason to live, gain tools to cope and to slowly overcome my eating disorder. They helped me to get back into education and I finally started to feel like I was breaking free from the chains that held me back for so many years. I was no longer walking down the narrow lonely corridors of hospitals or dancing with my demons. I am now living my dream, halfway through my qualification, working part time and offering support to the other clients of the Small Steps Project.

Sam Morgan

I was 16 when I first came to Small Steps. I was living with the fact I had quite a bad temper but didn’t want to admit to it. I didn’t want to feel ashamed. It got to the point where I got pretty hard to live with, my anger was getting worse and simple things would set it off. It got to the point where shouting turned into me deliberately hitting anything hard, just to try and feel something other than anger. I was also damaging my hands. My parents and I realised I couldn’t go on doing what I was doing, so I got in touch with Small Steps.

It took a long time for me to understand that I was adjusting from being a young person being told “what to do” and the new pressures of having to make decisions about life. “Who I want to become” and “what I want to achieve”. Small Steps helped me with this, it was the first time I had someone who I could speak to and someone who understood how I was feeling.

I felt I only had the one overwhelming emotion which was anger. I was always waiting to be challenged and at the first hurdle I would usually just lash out! Over time it become apparent that there was more to life than just this feeling of anger. Things changed for me and now I saw things differently; I could stand back and assess the moment and realise that anger was not the correct response. All of this was only really possible because of the continued support I received from the Small Steps Project.

I am in a different place today. I think more positively about what I would like to achieve. I am now 19 years old and aspiring to be a Royal Marine commando, which is a completely opposite mind-set. My mental and physical toughness has developed through training. I understand how to take care of my body and wellbeing. My relationship with parents is very different today, we are able to talk about things more openly and have become closer as a family. I realise now how I have a lot more to give in life and that it all starts with you allowing these changes to happen.

Jess and Sam's stories also feature in this short video about the Small Steps Project:

Find out more about the work of Rekindle and its Small Steps Project on the organisation’s website. The charity is funded by charitable trusts, local groups, businesses and individual donations. If you can help in any way you can contact the charity by emailing: help@rekindle.org.uk or ring 01686 722222.

Sarah Napper with Diane

Stop press: Rekindle volunteer Sarah Napper was recently nominated for the Powys Volunteer of the Year Award 2018 and reached the shortlist. Sarah has been volunteering for three and a half years and her role involves welcoming clients and professionals to the project. She does this despite having her own bipolar diagnosis. Sarah is around the same age as those seeking help so she has a special empathy and understanding of their problems and is a good listener. Diane said: "Sarah promotes and empowers young people to believe they can achieve anything in life despite any obstacles that come their way."

Rekindle's Small Steps Project

Rekindle's young people, trustees and staff with Lord Alex Carlile for the summer relaunch

Kemal Keeble is the Recovery Practitioner at the mental health charity Rekindle based in Newtown, North Powys. I went to meet him, his colleague Diane Williams, and some of the young people they work with a few weeks ago at their lovely new premises at Market Street. Kemal runs the Small Steps Project at Rekindle, so he and the young people have now worked together to produce this guest blog post for us.

Some weeks ago I was asked if Small Steps would like to post a blog on the Powys Mental Health blog site run by the mental health team at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO).

The idea being that we could get some of the young people we are involved with actively writing about their own experiences of mental health and their own roads to recovery. That we might write a little introduction to our service, the things we do, and explain how what we do aids the community we live in. So here I am today putting those words into action!

A little about Rekindle and “The Small Steps Project”………

Rekindle is a small charity that was initially set up some years ago as an intervention service for people who are struggling with mental health. In June 2013 Rekindle's thinking was that the Small Steps Project would restart concentrating on work with 16 – 25 year olds in the Montgomeryshire catchment area. In June 2015 Small Steps moved to new premises on Market Street and has developed into a community hub for the young people we support. 

To coincide with this move we held a celebration at The Elephant and Castle on Saturday 11th July 2015. It was a unique opportunity where organisations could meet Rekindle's trustees, staff,and young people. Lord Alex Carlile of Berriew CBE QC, Rekindle's patron and the guest of honour, attended. He gave an informative speech about the impact of mental health on his own family and why he helped set up Rekindle. Rekindle’s trustee Dr John Scott, Small Steps Project Coordinator Diane Williams, with myself gave a short presentation about the impact of mental health on our community. This was further brought home by a number of young people talking about their own experiences of mental health and how Small Steps had helped them on the journey to recovery.

What we do

At Small Steps we work with young people who are having difficulties. The first meeting can be a very worrying situation for someone who might have problems. We understand how challenging it can be for someone to build up the confidence to walk through our door, meet people they do not know, and then be able to talk about what it is that is causing them to feel at a low ebb. Young people can struggle due to being socially isolated or not having the confidence to meet new people. We often tell them how it’s OK to bring someone along for moral support on the first meeting.

In some of the work we do we can find ourselves mediating and representing clients on a whole variety of matters, for example -  support with benefits, estrangement, appointee duties, anti-social behaviour, appropriate adult, advocacy, physical and mental health, doctors' appointments and various assessments.

Our support means that people in the age group of 16 – 25 can access help and have however much time they need to work through any issues they may have. It means that they are open to our service for what could be many years should they need help. It is a core reason that Small Steps was set up initially as an early intervention service so that young people can understand they do not need to rely on services all their lives, that they can manage their own wellbeing and gain the valuable skills they need to function independently in our community.

At Small Steps we are all about being reactive to our client’s needs, empowering young people to succeed and move up in the world.

Over the past year we have often listened to what our clients have spoken about and also challenged them to try new and different things. We have found this to be a real turning point in our young people’s lives. They have met new people, and made new friendships and self-discoveries along the way. Some of the activities we have run include - photography expeditions to local places of interest, badminton, football, and Britain’s Got Talent auditions. Not to mention sponsored walks. The response from our young people has been that they do like being able to have time out from their normal everyday lives as it gives them new experiences and more enthusiasm for what happens locally in Montgomeryshire.

"Mountains" - by a young person involved in the Small Steps Project

"I am an 18 year old living in Newtown! To everyone else I come across as an always happy, bubbly person. However, even people like this may only be acting. I am on the road of recovery so I am very lucky but I only have achieved this by pushing myself and coming to Small Steps which was the best thing I ever did.

My life has been and is a journey just like anyone else’s just there has been mountains for me to climb. At first I found them too high but it didn’t stop me and it shouldn’t stop anyone else either. I now have to keep climbing these mountains and yes, even now some mountains may grow in front of me, trying to stop me on my path, but I know the best thing for me to do is not let it knock me back or put me down just climb it. I’m not saying it will be easy but with the right support and positive thinking it is possible. I know positive thinking is very hard as I struggle myself to keep positive but I know I am getting the support I need to work on this with Small Steps and anyone else that needs help should go to them too. So no matter how big or small your mountains are you can climb them and get to the other side of them. To cope with these mountains I find things to do such as:

• Drawing.
• Singing.
• Covering my walls in happy quotes to look at when I wake up.
• Also the main one - surrounding yourself with positive people."

Small Steps Project update

We have recently been nominated for the Powys Business Awards and have got through to being finalists. Part of being a finalist was to have a production company make a short film about Small Steps on 19th August 2015. 

Filming day at Rekindle's Newtown premises

All at Rekindle are now waiting in anticipation for this year’s fiercely fought “charity category”. The Judges' decision is due to be announced live at the Powys Business Awards Ceremony Dinner on Friday 25th September 2015.

UPDATE: Rekindle's Small Steps Project won the Social Enterprise/Charity category of the Powys Business Awards on Friday 25 September 2015. Congratulations!

Kemal told me: "We are very honoured to have won and feel it is positive recognition in raising awareness of the good work that is ongoing throughout Montgomeryshire by The Small Steps Project. Hopefully now we will be able to secure the financial funding we need to continue to support Montgomeryshire's young people as they are potentially our future here in Powys."

Kemal & Diane receive the Powys Business Award
from Mid Wales Housing Association

Many thanks to Kemal and all at Rekindle for telling us about their work. If you are a young person reading this, what do you do to help cope with your "mountains"? Tell us in the comments box below.