Derek shares his experience of support and the difference it has made.
Earlier this year, Derek had to move house. Moving house can sometimes feel very difficult. Derek
thought that he might find it hard.
‘I didn’t want to leave my original address. But I had to. That was quite stressful.’
Derek felt that the move would affect his mental health. So, he asked his Support Coordinator for
help.
‘Asking for support can be the difficult part. But my Support Coordinator made it easy for me to reach out. The way they were made it easier for me to ask for help.’
His Support Coordinator arranged for a removal company to help Derek. They packed up his
belongings and moved them all to his new house.
‘I was going through a bad time. They made it an easy process. I would not have managed it myself. It would have been a lot of upheaval for me.’
Being able to trust the removal company was important too. Derek felt that they were reliable and professional.
‘I still get anxiety. It came up during the house move but I managed to control it because the removal guys were so good.’
Derek is settled in his new home. He also feels safer and more comfortable.
‘Everything from my old house is in my new house now. I’m more relaxed now. I’m in a lot better place mentally because of this. Support has made my life easier. My mindset is in a different place now. And I can concentrate on myself.’
Now, Derek is looking at how he can take care of his physical health.
‘I was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes so now need to control my diet. I’ve got a recipe book for my diabetes. I’m a former chef so I know to replace processed food with vegetables and fruit. I’m doing a lot of walking – I do five miles in a day sometimes. Wee bits at a time so I can keep it comfortable.’
Derek is also looking at how he can support his mental health too.
‘Now I can concentrate on my own mental health. I will still need help and I’ve spoken to my Support Coordinator about this. So we can look at the next steps. I’m looking forward to that.’
He is making sure that he takes things at his own pace.
‘I am looking at getting my support plan in place to look at what happens next. I’ve got my plan on hold for a wee bit while I focus on things with my house and try to relax. My Support Coordinator said I have done a good job getting to where I am.’
In the meantime, Derek plans to do more of his artwork.
‘I’ve done more pictures at my art class, and I’ve got them at home with me. I’d like to hang them on the wall. I’ve got pictures of Blondie, Whitney and Elton John. I usually go to an art class every Monday. I am going to get my art equipment back in my house then I can do paintings for people.’
Our latest Quarterly Report is now available to view. It covers our work from January to March 2025. It shows what we’ve learnt, and includes key stats and feedback from those who access Future Pathways.
What happened in Q4
- 36 people registered with Future Pathways
- 38 people started working with a Support Coordinator
- 73 people were referred to 15 Delivery Partners
Who we supported
- The average age of people who registered with us was 46
- 85% of people who registered with us live in Scotland’s most populated areas
How people felt
- We received positive feedback from people we support, and we also received suggestions about how we could improve
- People shared that they felt Future Pathways understood and cared about them. Many people also shared that they felt able to trust Future Pathways.
“It’s the relationship that’s the most important thing, more than anything else. The connection and the fact that I felt safe to connect with my Support Coordinator.”
(Person supported by Future Pathways)
What people gained
- Many people told us that they felt able to access the support that is right for them. People accessed support from our Delivery Partners, such as help with record searches. And people accessed our Discretionary Fund, for example to make their home feel safe and comfortable.
- We supported people to link up with existing services, such as healthcare.
“Future Pathways has been on my journey every step of the way, supporting me with the challenges I have met.”
(Person supported by Future Pathways)
What difference we made
- Some people told us that their life, overall, was better now than it was before and others feel more hopeful about the future.
“You’ve held the hope for me and now I’m able to hold the hope for myself.”
(Person supported by Future Pathways)
What changed for people
- People told us what changed in their life after accessing our support. Some people feel that they know more about their strengths and abilities. Others feel clearer about the changes that they want to make.
“Future Pathways has helped me move on from my trauma. My life took a new direction. To where I live and how I cope with my everyday life.”
(Person supported by Future Pathways)
Our full report features further infographics, feedback and a breakdown of our financial spend.
Mary, our Peer Support Lead, tells us more about the sessions so far.
Since June, we have held 4 Peer Support sessions – in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and online. It has been wonderful to see so many people attending. Some people are on the Future Pathways’ waitlist and others have been supported by the service.
We have been starting our sessions with tea and coffee, and time to settle in. Everyone at Peer Support is invited to share how they are feeling. Or, they can just listen and take part in a way that feels right for them.
At Peer Support, we also make a group agreement. This helps everyone feel safe and respected. We talked about the importance of respect and listening, and how we can make sure everyone feels included.
We have also been working on our Peer Support Tree. Each leaf shows someone’s hope for what they want to get from coming to the group. People have been writing things like “to feel stable”, “to be supported”, “to be believed and valued” and “to meet people who get it”.
Some people said they came to Peer Support because they felt lonely or were looking for something to do. Others were curious or wanted to try something new. When we asked how people felt afterwards, they said things like “connected”, “hopeful”, “inspired” and “not alone”.
Thank you to everyone who has come along so far. This year is focused on our group sessions and workshops. We are always looking for feedback and new ideas for things we can try in the future.
If Peer Support sounds like something you would like to try, we would love to welcome you to a session.
Taking part and booking your place
There are limited spaces at all sessions and workshops. If you would like to come along, please contact Mary:
Mary, Peer Support Lead
peer-support@future-pathways.co.uk
Phone or text: 07552 393 019
If you need support to arrange transport to your nearest session, or need help with the cost, please let Mary know. We may be able to help.