Barnsley Mental Health Community Connectors Team

This new service delivers recovery focussed interventions, such as gradually building confidence around anxiety provoking situations and experiences, psychoeducation, accessing the Recovery College and enabling individuals to connect with their local communities in Barnsley.

Role of Community Connector Team

Peer Support roles in the Community Connector team are based on direct lived experience of mental health difficulties. We offer emotional and practical support to people going through similar kinds of experiences. We use our own lived experiences to connect with people and can help you by:

• Giving you a sense of hope and wellbeing.
• Support you to gain control over your life.
• Help you to engage to build connections and have a sense of belonging within your local community.

What we do

It’s not uncommon for some people to feel patronised or misunderstood when discussing mental health issues. Speaking to someone with similar experiences can often remove this feeling. We can offer weekly visits to your home environment or a community setting to work with you face to face. We can help with:

• 1:1 support.
• Signposting to other relevant organisations, agencies and community groups.
• Developing your goals and aspirations.
• Accessing community resources.
• Engaging with local communities across Barnsley.
• Gradually building your confidence around anxiety provoking situations and experiences. Please note we are unable to provide:
• Crisis intervention.
• Clinical advice, e.g. medication.
• Transport.

How can a Peer Support Worker help me?

We understand. As Peer Support Workers we understand what you are going through and coping with. We know sometimes people can feel isolated and stigmatised. We understand you are not the only one going through your struggles. There is support available to you. Interpreters are available for non-English speaking service users.

The principles of the Community Connector Team

Trust – Feeling safe and having confidence in relationships and outcomes.

Hope – Feeling you can achieve what can be had.

Self-determination – Living the life you want to live.

Commonality – Shared beliefs and goals.

Empathy – Understanding and sharing the feelings of another.

Equality – Having equal value and power.

Diversity – Different and varied life elements and characteristics.

 

Meet the Team!……

GEMMA 

Hi, my name is Gemma. I have struggled with my wellbeing and mental health since my teens, often feeling different to those around me in the way I experience and cope with everyday life. I have suffered from depression and anxiety and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I have spent time under home treatment and recovery services, where I learned a lot about the idea of recovery in mental health. Since then, I have strived to live a full and meaningful life despite my ongoing challenges, rather than seeking to be fixed or trying to get back to an old version of myself. I am a wife, a mum, a student and volunteer amongst other things. I have worked as a peer support worker both in and out of the NHS and I am very passionate about the value of peer support. I have a genuine understanding of how it feels to be emotionally and mentally unwell and the impact it can have on life, and I have learned how to better cope and thrive over the years. I really enjoy working as a peer support worker in the community connectors team and find supporting others to achieve their goals and improve their wellbeing both a privilege and something that helps me in my recovery.

KATY

Hi, I’m Katy. I’m passionate about my role as a peer support worker in the community connector team. Before stepping into this position, I was a full-time carer for my younger brother while also navigating my own experiences with anxiety, loneliness, low mood, and the grief of a sudden loss. During that time, I received support from a peer support worker who introduced me to this role. Without her encouragement and belief in me, I would never have imagined myself doing such meaningful and rewarding work. Experiencing peer support first-hand showed me just how powerful and invaluable that support can be. I’m proud to now be in a position where I can offer that same understanding, empathy, and encouragement to others.

OREO

Hello, I am Oreo. I am one of the peer support workers in the community connector team and have lived experience of being a carer for a family member suffering from long-term health conditions. For several years, my family and I faced many challenges and were often unaware of our own needs as carers. I struggled to express my feelings and did not know where to turn for support. During these difficult times, we experienced low mood and anxiety, which had a significant impact on our wellbeing. We were so blessed to receive support from our family, friends and the community, which helped us get through this tough time before things went wrong. Now, I am much more aware of my own mental health and wellbeing My family and I are still on our journey towards recovery. A few years ago, we chose to move to the UK, which was one of the biggest steps in our recovery journey. We continue to learn and grow along the way, and I look forward to supporting others through their own experiences.

LOUISE

Hi, my name is Louise. I recently struggled with my mental health and wellbeing since being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety since serving in the Armed Forces for 12 years. After leaving the Armed Forces, I did not receive any help or support from the Army. As a result, I became very isolated, lost and distant from my family and friends. I also struggled to accept what was going on. After moving back to Yorkshire to be closer to my family, as I was in a very difficult place, I met with a welfare coach at my GP surgery. She signposted me to the Recovery and Wellbeing College. I attended a number of courses at the college, including a gym programme, where I discovered my passion for exercise. Exercise has played a significant role in supporting my mental health, and I completed the 12 week gym course. After finishing the programme, I volunteered at the Recovery and Wellbeing College gym for three years, supporting staff and helping individuals to achieve their goals. I was then fortunate enough to be offered a permanent role as a peer support worker in the community connector team. I have found my passion in helping and supporting individuals who are experiencing mental health struggles, showing that it is possible to achieve your goals and live life to the full, even when living with a mental health condition.

HANNAH

My name is Hannah. I am the newest member of the community connector team. You’ll often find me with a book in my hand and a craft project half started. I love learning new things and singing along to the radio. I’ve struggled with my mental health for more than 20 years. Over that time, I’ve learnt lots of things that help and a few things that don’t and I’m passionate about talking to others about their experiences. When I became a mum, I found things really hard and with another mum, we set up a support group for mums with mental health struggles. Since then, I’ve learnt to be a strong advocate for myself, my son and others. This is my first time as a peer support worker, having worked in retail and manufacturing previously, but I have always been a good listener, cheerleader and problem solver. I look forward to working with you, to get you where you want to be.