Struggling people in The Meadows attending a warm hub say they now feel 'accepted' and more 'confident'. The coffee morning is said to benefit those who attend regularly and is helping them turn their lives around.
Social prescriber Charlotte Bowman has been attending the coffee morning for two weeks. The 34-year-old, from Clifton, said in the past two weeks things have been more positive for her after struggling with mental health.
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She said: "It’s actually really good. This is my second week, it’s amazing and I get along with older people. I’m really struggling with physical and mental health at the moment.
“I’ve learnt to play a game of cards last week, and (I was) referred to the Nottingham Women's Centre - I did an arts and crafts class. Tina also gave me some food vouchers for a food bank from Clifton. I actually volunteered at the food bank on Saturday as well."
Since going to the coffee morning Charlotte has benefited from learning arts and crafts at the Nottingham Women's Centre, as well as doing some volunteering. Charlotte expressed how it’s nice to be surrounded by a good circle of people.
She continued: “I always wanted to be accepted, I like to make people laugh, I like to be cheeky and some people don’t tolerate that. So many people have used me for cigarettes, drugs, money, and clothes. In the past two weeks things have started to turn right. I don't think negatively. It’s really nice to get out and it’s something to get dressed for.”
The coffee morning was created by a Lead Social Prescribing Link Worker, Tina Paddon, who has worked in the NHS for 18 years. Tina became a social prescribing link worker in August 2020. Growing up in The Meadows, she wanted to give back to the community.
She said: “Quite a few people here are on my list and have come through from the doctor's surgery. When I came here there wasn’t something for those who are socially isolated, not even a coffee morning. I thought I had to do something.”
Tina then found a location, The Salvation Army, in The Meadows to begin the coffee mornings. She put in bids to get funding as well as receiving donations from the Co-op and began getting the community together along with her social prescribers.
One of Tina’s social prescribers who has ‘amazingly’ grown in confidence and opened up is 20-year-old Sadiq Jr Mohammad.
Sadiq was referred to Tina by his GP after arriving in the UK and leaving his family in Nigeria in September 2020. Since then he has been visiting the coffee mornings for the past 8 months.
Sadiq said: “I was grateful and happy. I tried to speak to people. This has tried to help me to be happy and forget about things from my past. Tina’s helped me in the football team which is very great. I will always be happy, things are getting better. Getting advice has helped me a lot with my mental health as well.”
Tina said: “I’ve always been that person in life, even with my family and friends. It’s always nice to see the goals, it is rewarding. It is hard because I think there are gaps in mental health care. It can be quite challenging for them.
“You have to have resilience, I have that experience. I grew up in The Meadows, I’ve lived in St Anns, I’ve seen a lot. I’m not judgemental, everybody is human and everybody’s got a story.”
Claire Matthews, Senior Service Transformation Manager at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “We are keen to support schemes that help people to be part of their communities and prevent loneliness and isolation. The Meadows Community Coffee Morning is a great way of getting people together to socialise, as well as offering a warm and welcoming environment.”
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