Story by Melanie

My name is Melanie. I used to live with my mum in X, I wasn’t very independent and my mum did most things for me. I had a Personal Assistant that I used to see twice a week.

I found lockdown extremely difficult, I had lots of mixed emotions. My social worker suggested that I move to supported living. At first, I was against the idea. I was scared to move away from my mum, I had previously been to respite on a weekly basis occasionally, but i missed my mum and family a lot.

After lots of thought, I decided to give supported living a chance.

I met my two housemates for the first time at our local pub/restaurant, we all had a lovely meal together with our families and staff. I felt happy and relaxed, some of my worries disappeared.

After this I was keen to visit XX in XXX (a Hilton Care service).

I thought the house was very nice, and I was welcomed by my new housemates and staff. I visited six more times before I moved in.

Before I moved in we had several transition days out – we had a bowling outing and a day out at Colchester Zoo.

I moved in September 2021, I have now lived here for 3 years.

Since living here, I have achieved so much with the help and support from my staff.

I now do lots of cooking and baking with support, hoovering, dusting, emptying and loading the dishwasher, putting the pillow cases on my pillows, and I clean my bathroom much more thoroughly now.

We’ve had some exciting days out: we went on the tube and train to London to see “Hairspray ” the musical and also visited the London Aquarium on a different occasion…both trips were brilliant.

I joined our local leisure centre, I go swimming regularly. I really enjoy both these activities and my fitness has improved a lot. I have managed to lose a stone in weight in a year, with healthy eating too.

I have also joined two social groups Accuro and Thrive. I used to struggle socialising but now I find it easier to make new friends.

I went on a four-day holiday with Accuro to Centre Parcs, which was amazing.

I enjoy doing arts ‘n’ crafts, diamond art and scratch art. We have a ‘come dine with me’ evening, once a week, and take it in turns to cook for each other., with staff supporting us, this is fun.

I still stay at my mum’s once a month, but I’m happy to come back home to XX. Moving here was definitely the right choice for me. I’m looking forward to gaining more independence and creating lots more new memories at XX.