Life felt very empty somehow. My husband had died a few years previously. I had tried to build a new life for myself and had joined in some activities with Age UK West Sussex Brighton & Hove. But I felt very lonely and sometimes depressed, especially at weekends.
One day I was at the Laburnum Centre in Bognor and I saw a leaflet from West Sussex Mind with the word ‘loneliness’ on it. It really spoke to me. So I enquired with the manager of the Communities in Mind service, and she asked me to come along for an interview.
After that, I started going along to the group meetings on Tuesday afternoons and to the art group once a month. I’ve done keep fit sessions, bingo, quizzes and other activities with West Sussex Mind. I’ve really enjoyed these afternoons. I’ve made friends and it has brought me happiness. It has helped to fill the gap and the emptiness that I felt.
I first got in touch with West Sussex Mind in September 2019 before the COVID pandemic hit. But even during the COVID lockdowns, West Sussex Mind did its best to keep the group sessions going. As soon as restrictions allowed, they ran face-to-face groups again with six people in the room socially distanced. And throughout the whole period, they sent a monthly newsletter to us with puzzles, colouring and other activities.