Recovery
Recovery
4Winds is committed to helping people work towards recovery. Recovery in mental health does not mean life without symptoms, rather, learning to live life to the full, to have hope and to realise your potential despite them. We believe that each person is unique, and all our services are delivered in a person centred, holistic and recovery focussed way. We are fully signed up to and work to the Cardiff and Vale Charter for Adult Mental Health.
4Winds is committed to helping people work towards recovery. Recovery in mental health does not mean life without symptoms, rather, learning to live life to the full, to have hope and to realise your potential despite them. We believe that each person is unique, and all our services are delivered in a person centred, holistic and recovery focussed way. We are fully signed up to and work to the Cardiff and Vale Charter for Adult Mental Health.
Recovery Star
4Winds is a licensed Mental Health Recovery Star provider and all workers are trained in this. Recovery usually means changing things in a number of areas of your life so that things work better for you. The Recovery Star provides a framework for identifying the areas where change needs to happen and putting a plan in place for this to happen. You will have ownership and control of this plan and with our support will identify areas of your life that you want to change/make improvements in; the Recovery Star helps you see the big picture. It will measure progress and show you where barriers might be in place and the outcomes measures will also help us to see if the support we put in place is helping.
4Winds is a licensed Mental Health Recovery Star provider and all workers are trained in this. Recovery usually means changing things in a number of areas of your life so that things work better for you. The Recovery Star provides a framework for identifying the areas where change needs to happen and putting a plan in place for this to happen. You will have ownership and control of this plan and with our support will identify areas of your life that you want to change/make improvements in; the Recovery Star helps you see the big picture. It will measure progress and show you where barriers might be in place and the outcomes measures will also help us to see if the support we put in place is helping.
The Star looks at ten areas of your life:
Managing mental health
Relationships
Self-care
Addictive behaviour
Living skills
Responsibilities
Social networks
Identity and self-esteem
Work
Trust and hope
Relationships
Self-care
Addictive behaviour
Living skills
Responsibilities
Social networks
Identity and self-esteem
Work
Trust and hope
- Managing mental health
- Relationships
- Self-care
- Addictive behaviour
- Living skills
- Responsibilities
- Social networks
- Identity and self-esteem
- Work
- Trust and hope
If you would like to arrange a Mental Health Recovery Star session, please contact us for an appointment.
A Personal Experience Of Recovery: Izzy's Story
My name is Isobel Oak. I live and work locally neither would be possible without years of holistic, consistent and enduring support from 4Winds.
I have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This condition devastated my life in every aspect. Before I engaged with 4Winds I didn't engage with anything and no longer wanted to live - my life was unbearable to me. I had a very unhealthy and destructive lifestyle. Sleeping all day and awake all night. I lived in a bedsit in a shared house with very noisy neighbours. I only went out to buy unhealthy snack food at the local shop. I was overweight had impoverished thought, was isolated and extremely lonely. I had gone past the 4Winds on occasion - it looked welcoming and I eventually plucked up the courage to go there on my own. No pressure or appointments I couldn't keep. This was a turning point because I was empowered by this decision; my first step by choice towards recovery. I was so unwell at this time, that I found my visits to the centre initially were to give me some respite from my dire living conditions, total isolation and sense of hopelessness. In time I began to feel safe, welcomed and valued – something I hadn’t experienced with other services. I soon found I had hope for the future and began to pursue activities in the community that I wouldn’t have dreamed of in the past. 4Winds gave me such a solid foundation and strong support network that I was able to undertake studying for an art degree, voluntary work and eventually paid work. I now work three days a week as a peer support worker at the Pendine Community Mental Health Team.
4Winds works for so many people that would not otherwise engage in services. The social contact, centre activities and services are aimed towards increasing self-esteem and enablement. This is very much my experience and the experience of friends I have made at the centre.
I have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This condition devastated my life in every aspect. Before I engaged with 4Winds I didn't engage with anything and no longer wanted to live - my life was unbearable to me. I had a very unhealthy and destructive lifestyle. Sleeping all day and awake all night. I lived in a bedsit in a shared house with very noisy neighbours. I only went out to buy unhealthy snack food at the local shop. I was overweight had impoverished thought, was isolated and extremely lonely. I had gone past the 4Winds on occasion - it looked welcoming and I eventually plucked up the courage to go there on my own. No pressure or appointments I couldn't keep. This was a turning point because I was empowered by this decision; my first step by choice towards recovery. I was so unwell at this time, that I found my visits to the centre initially were to give me some respite from my dire living conditions, total isolation and sense of hopelessness. In time I began to feel safe, welcomed and valued – something I hadn’t experienced with other services. I soon found I had hope for the future and began to pursue activities in the community that I wouldn’t have dreamed of in the past. 4Winds gave me such a solid foundation and strong support network that I was able to undertake studying for an art degree, voluntary work and eventually paid work. I now work three days a week as a peer support worker at the Pendine Community Mental Health Team.
4Winds works for so many people that would not otherwise engage in services. The social contact, centre activities and services are aimed towards increasing self-esteem and enablement. This is very much my experience and the experience of friends I have made at the centre.
Several years ago, I was informed about a call for entries to design a recovery charter logo which inspired me to do so. My design was chosen and is still used on the Charter to this day. I attended the launch of the Charter at the Welsh Assembly and was able to share some of my experiences; this was a boost to my confidence. I learned a lot about recovery from my own journey enabled by the 4Winds. The logo sums up what I have learned about recovery; that it can be about personal growth and nurturing yourself. The right environment helps. 4Winds has contributed to creating the right environment for me and many others.
The ongoing support from 4Winds is so important to my own and other service user’s health, wellbeing and recovery. I think by getting service users working and engaging in the wider community helps with challenging stigma by bringing taboos to light i.e. being able to talk about topics and experiences that are not commonplace in mainstream society. We need the space to do this in, to have experienced support available and to have access to peer support. The 4Winds is excellent in providing this space.
The ongoing support from 4Winds is so important to my own and other service user’s health, wellbeing and recovery. I think by getting service users working and engaging in the wider community helps with challenging stigma by bringing taboos to light i.e. being able to talk about topics and experiences that are not commonplace in mainstream society. We need the space to do this in, to have experienced support available and to have access to peer support. The 4Winds is excellent in providing this space.
With thanks to Isobel Oak, 4Winds Member and Peer Support Worker at Pendine Community Mental Health Team
Cardiff and Vale Recovery and Wellbeing College
As one of the organisations involved in supporting the planning and development of a Cardiff and Vale Recovery and Wellbeing College, 4Winds is delighted that the college is now fully operational and providing an excellent range of free recovery focussed courses on a range of mental health and wellbeing topics. These are available to all those who are currently using or have used mental health services, their carers, all Health Board staff, or individuals working in mental health in the Local Authority and Charitable Sector. We are committed to continue our good working relationship with the College and supporting the work around recovery locally. For further information on the College including its most recent prospectus please visit:
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