Mandy's Story with Enable
My Move to Enable
Now I live on my own in Hasland and I love it! I sometimes go to visit my mum, but I like being independent and taking care of myself with my support staff. My family live all over - Australia, Glossop and Manchester! My Enable staff helped me learn to use public transport and so I can travel to visit my family without support staff having to come with me.
What I like best about Enable is that there are always staffs around for me to talk to whenever things happened that I don't like or if I get anxious and unhappy. I used to be quite shy. Enable has given me lots of ways to learn to be more independent, to do more things with people and to talk in front of people. I am getting much more confident and happy.
Volunteering at the Edge Charity Shop and With Local Enable Events
I am a volunteer at The Edge Charity Shop on two days each week. I do all sorts of things including meeting and serving customers. I also sort out the new things that come in and tidy up the displays. I enjoy it a lot.
As well as volunteer at The Edge Shop I also go to the Enable Women's Group each week. We meet up at the Parish Centre and have a laugh. Sometimes we choose to go out and do things together. Recently it was my 40th birthday and we all went out for a birthday meal together to celebrate! I also go out with the Enable Walking Group on Fridays. We take a packed lunch and have a few hours of walking with the Enable Community Activity Staff. I also go to the Enable Service User Drop In on Monday nights at the Parish Centre. Not always - it depends what activities we have arranged.
Busy on my Allotment and Serving on Committees
This year I started work on my own space on a local community allotment. I really enjoy being outside doing my work with other people who are very friendly and fun. Some of my mates at Enable also have allotments so we sometimes meet up and work together.
I was elected as Vice Chairperson on our Service User Forum committee. At first I was really nervous but getting the experience of doing it and also the encouragement from Enable staff has helped me to enjoy doing it and become more confident.
Enjoying my Holidays and Being Involved in Communtiy Events
Last year I helped with the stall we had at the Queens Park Summer fair. I will be doing it again this year at the end of July. I like to go on holiday. I have been to Canada and to Gozo with Enable, and last year I went to Greece with Dave my partner. Enable staff helped me to pack, but because I am now more independent Dave and I did all the booking ourselves. I couldn't do that before but now I have much more confidence to do things myself.
I would really like to go on one of those activity holidays doing canoeing and rock climbing. I will be talking with my staff to find out how I can do that next year. I really like my life now and do lots of different things in the community. With Enable staff support I have gained confidence to give presentations and talk in front of people.
