"A breath of fresh air"

Yesterday morning I had my final meeting with Matt in his role as my WEC. We have been seeing each other for a year now and sadly, that time has come to an end.

A year ago, I was in a mess. I had an aim to become a coach/speaker but un-diagnosed, untreated, serious, trauma related mental health issues meant that I was unable to move forward (a lifelong pattern) and was having a breakdown. My GP told me about the Working Win scheme, and what I heard was a breath of fresh air.

A scheme where the client was primary and received the support they needed to achieve their goals from a designated person who could also help them liaise with the institutions and bureaucracies which are often overwhelmingly complex and intimidating to people who are not well! It seemed too good be true. And yet here it was, being trialled.

I was so fortunate to be selected to receive personal mentoring and even more fortunate to be allocated to Matt. It was easy to form a excellent working relationship with him, he is an easy person to get along with, reliable and trustworthy. He has listened, understood and responded to my aims and needs with great skill. He has been incredibly encouraging and supportive, great at picking out my skills, abilities and positive qualities often when I was not aware of them myself, great at helping me to reach beyond my comfort zone in ways I can manage. He is knowledgeable about the support, openings and opportunities that are available, and if he didn't know, he would find out.

So now I have a role on the management team of the business I work for and have made a difference there in terms of developing that business and its role in the community. I have also found opportunities to organise successful group coaching sessions and public speaking which I will build up over time.

Alongside with Matt's support I am also, at last, receiving the specialist therapy I so desperately need. Recovery will take time and I still have a long way to go, but Matt's input has been invaluable in convincing me that I have value and something worthwhile to offer the world.

I cannot praise the Working Win scheme or Matt highly enough, I hope they both progress and achieve every success.