“I think back to being sat in my car in tears, rock bottom, waiting for that call – we all need a Bridge to cross a path and get on track”.
Who are Bridge Northumberland?
“I think back to being sat in my car in tears, rock bottom, waiting for that call – we all need a Bridge to cross a path and get on track”.
Stephen signed up for support from Bridge Northumberland in September 2021. After losing his Mother in 2019, redundant, health problems plus the multiple COVID lockdowns and living on his own he felt at rock bottom and needed help. He had tried to hide it and get by on his own but was really struggling. A lifetime of being shy had now become social anxiety and he needed help.
Stephen says: “I was just one person in millions that the stress of life affects, and I can bet most of you try to hide it, try to be strong and try to get by on your own. My saviour came in a wonderful doctor, marvelous Talking Matters and the icing on the cake the cherry on top, Bridge Northumberland”.
Stephen was allocated Andrew as his Bridge Worker and the first contact was a telephone call.
Stephen says: “Sitting in my car in tears and talking to Andrew was my first contact with Bridge. I shall never forget putting my phone down, glad I’d answered the call. Someone wanted to listen and help! Thank you”.
Andrew arranged for Stephen to first have a financial review with Citizens Advice Northumberland. Then for counselling with Cygnus support and followed by job searching support at Bridge Northumberland Employment Hub in Morpeth.
Stephen says: “I was absolutely petrified to go to my first appointment at the Morpeth hub. Tracey and Joy, were so welcoming and friendly. They made me feel I am something, someone!.
“All the team that make up Bridge Northumberland, they are like a jigsaw with no missing pieces, a second family to me. They are all the very best you’d want to meet. Thank you all at Bridge and all connected, I shall never repay the help and warmth you all gave.
“With Bridges support I am now in work. I have progressed from being too frightened to go out to cut my front lawn, to now go into a shop and actually browse. To get on a bus full of people to go into Newcastle. To do a classroom course and gain a SIA qualification, then to use this to get job part-time with the love of my life, Newcastle United FC. I now stand in a stadium with 52,000 people. Not bad for being shy!.
“I think back to being sat in my car in tears, rock bottom, waiting for that call – we all need a Bridge to cross a path and get on track”.
Who are Bridge Northumberland?
