Charlene lived in a large, communal building with seven male housemates and this proved to be a very isolating experience for Charlene. Meals were served through a hatch and at other times the kitchen was locked which meant Charlene couldn’t prepare a snack when she wanted to. As a result of all these factors, Charlene spent nearly all of her time in her room. Importantly, she had not chosen who she lived with and she suffered from social isolation and was generally anxious and fearful of the outside world.
How we helped
The biggest single change to Charlene’s life has been a flat of her own which she has lived in with the support of Amanda and the team since 2012. Charlene has chosen the décor and furnishings herself and has filled it with sensory equipment of her choice. Charlene now loves spending time in the kitchen and enjoys baking cakes for her neighbours and friends. She enjoys spending time with other young people and has made some good female friendships which is a huge step forward for her.
Charlene gets out into the community at least four times a week and uses the local bus and train service when she needs to. She has enjoyed her first holiday this year which was a very successful trip to Centre Parcs. We have helped Charlene with the financial planning for trips and everyday expenses and she enjoys having the freedom to choice her own purchases within her budget.
The future
Charlene now leads a full life where she is sociable and engages well with the wider community. She can move forward with the security that her own home for life gives her.