Article 1
I hadn’t linked recovery to the place you live until I moved into Dynavours independent accommodation, this came with support hours. I had gone from a 1 room lodging into a beautiful flat-a flat that was clean and warm and a place that I could call my own. The first time I saw it I cried with relief, I didn’t think I deserved a place like that, it made me feel like that I must be a decent person to be offered it.It really changed my life.I had gone from no hope and despair to a sense of `worthiness`someone trusted me with the accommodation, I began to start feeling `normal`.I had my own front door and could come and go as I pleased, I could have visitors and could make them a cup of tea with my own kettle!-small things I know but tasks I had never been able to do before. I began to see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel and being in the warmth and safety of `my own flat I began to believe I could make this. Alongside my journey there was caring and supportive staff who held my hope until I was strong enough to hold it myself,with their encouragement and advice and the first place I could call a home, my recovery began.
Article 2
I moved from hospital in the community in 2008 to a 2 bed roomed flat in Belgrave House. I furnished the flat with the support of Dynavour and my family and had 28 hours of paid ‘care’ a week, some of this was through direct payments. The staff who came in 4 hours a day were invaluable facilitating me to shop, fish, going out for meals, cleaning, taking me to the sauna, skittles and also attendance at a social club. As time went on I reduced the hours down to 4 a week, and this was never a problem for Dynavour who were always very flexible. They always worked closely with the statutory services to help me. I am now ready to move to my own house and looking back I feel that without the support I had it would have been much harder work and my recovery would have been much slower.