After a series of personal losses, Carole turned to the Good Shepherd for support. Now content and moving forward, she shares her story in her own words.
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I had everything really. I had a job, I was doing care work, I had a home, family and everything – I was happy.
Then two years ago my life changed. I lost my twin brother, he passed away. Then I lost my job because I couldn’t cope with the trauma of losing my brother. And then, financially I started to struggle. One thing went wrong, then another, then something else and depression set in.
One day, when I was at my lowest, something in my head told me to go to the Good Shepherd. I came in, sat down, and everything just came out. I was so upset.
I was in debt with my rent and having eviction letters and really worried about becoming homeless. Shaz supported me with the courts to pay my arrears in instalments.
I then met Dawn who introduced me to the women’s group. It was wonderful to be able to talk with other women, as I had been feeling very isolated. I was also introduced to the Friendly Faces isolation group.
Later, I met the lovely Sue. We started having weekly one‑to‑one sessions, where she helped me build my IT skills and update my CV. She then supported me to move into voluntary work at the Central Community Shop. That’s where I started to get my confidence back.
While volunteering at the shop, I met Chloe. I worked on the till and helped with cleaning, and she was really pleased with my work. That gave my confidence another boost. I worked in the shop for a few months and really enjoyed it. The confidence I gained through the Good Shepherd began to reflect in every part of my life.
Eventually, I felt confident enough to return to paid work. I got a job in a care home and have been working there for about five months now and it’s great.
Even now, I can’t forget the Good Shepherd. I can’t because I love the people there. When I was down, they helped lift me back up. I couldn’t have done it without them.
Today, I have my job, my family are coming back together, and my confidence continues to grow. The Good Shepherd still welcomes me, just as they did when I was at my lowest.
I’m busy now and I don’t sit overthinking about things because I think that’s when things escalate in your mind and get bigger than what they actually are.
I’m contented at the moment with what I’ve got because I’ve got the Good Shepherd, I’ve got my work and I also have got Church on a Sunday.
It’s amazing how quickly one thing can go wrong, followed by another and another. It can be so hard to get back up again. But I did and that’s because of the help I received from the Good Shepherd.”
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Left to right – Carole pictured with Training and Development Worker Sue.
Sue, Training and Development Worker at the Good Shepherd said:
“I worked with Carole for around three months, meeting every Tuesday after the women’s group. Having that regular time helped us steadily build her skills and confidence.
“We focused on developing her IT skills, updating her CV, and exploring job and volunteering opportunities. I could really see her confidence growing. I checked in with her regularly, and she was so enthusiastic about her role at the Central Community Shop, it made a huge difference. I knew that once she regained her confidence, she would fly.”