Suffolk Mind

A local family channelled their grief into a golf day fundraiser to remember keen golfer, Barrie Tingley. Paul Tingley wrote and shared the family’s story with us.

“This past year has been incredibly tough for our family, following the loss of our dear Barrie.

“Losing a loved one to mental health struggles is a pain no one should have to endure. But from tragedy, we found purpose.

“In honour of Barrie, we came together to organise a charity golf day in support of Suffolk Mind, an organisation dedicated to providing mental health support and resources.

“Barrie was a keen and talented golfer. He loved nothing more than to shoot a round with his friends and family and add his wicked wit to the occasion with well-chosen banter, masking the true pain he constantly battled during his adult life.

“It was his release from his pain and suffering and what better testament to Barrie than to arrange an occasion in which he would have been in his element.

“What happened next was truly overwhelming.

“Businesses and individuals alike, all of whom knew Barrie personally, stepped forward with generosity beyond words.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed, whether by donating, playing golf, or simply spreading awareness, to help us raise an absolutely incredible £22,365 for Suffolk Mind.

“This was more than just a fundraiser. It was a huge collective statement that mental health matters; that no one should feel alone in their struggles; that together, we can make a difference.

“Thank you to everyone who stood by us on this journey. Let’s continue the conversation for many years to come, help to raise awareness, and support those who need it most.”

Jon, Suffolk Mind’s CEO, wanted to thank them for their support:

“I want to say a massive thank you to Steve and Paul Tingley who organised a golf day in memory of their brother, Barrie. They have raised, along with their supporters, £22,365 including Gift Aid.

“I know that they would like to extend their thanks to the 19 hole sponsors, nine auction prize sponsors and donors and the 20 raffle prize donors for their support. And of course, to everybody who came out on the golf day itself.

“I know that they’ve had a difficult year since they lost their dear brother, Barrie.

“As they say, losing a loved one to mental health struggles or mental ill health is a pain that nobody should endure and they’re absolutely right.

“We want to be here for everybody that is struggling with their mental health no matter who they are, where they live in Suffolk and whatever their circumstances. Raising money in this way helps us to do exactly that.

“For example, £22,000 could fund our Helpline for nearly half a year or help hundreds of people to access subsidised or free counselling services so that more families don’t have to endure what Steve, Paul and their families have gone through.

“Barrie was a keen golfer, and what better way to honour his memory and to help people in Suffolk by running a golf day.

“We’re incredibly grateful to them and to everybody who has stepped up and supported it.”

View the golf day gallery

—

In memory of Barrie Jon Tingley

11 December 1969 – 29 March 2024

People in Suffolk are meeting their emotional and physical needs better than those in the neighbouring counties, Suffolk Mind has revealed to mark Suffolk Day.

We have released our new State of Suffolk report, which uses data from our Emotional Needs Survey – an online questionnaire asking people living both in the county and elsewhere about how well they are meeting the 12 physical and emotional needs which contribute to our overall mental health.

The survey revealed people living in the county are almost two times more likely to be meeting their needs than respondents in Norfolk and Essex – with the scores for each individual need ranking higher across the board.

Our CEO Jon Neal, said: “These are really positive findings which show the impact the work of us and our partners are having in the county.

“Our mission is to make Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health – and while we’re not there yet, this is a real sign of how things can improve.

“For these findings to come out ahead of our county’s special day is definitely a cause for optimism.”

The biggest differences between Suffolk and the surrounding counties were seen in Meaning & Purpose, Value, Movement and Food & Drink.

Overall when considering all 12 needs, people in Suffolk are meeting their needs 7% better than those in our neighbouring counties.

Jon added: “Starting off with Food & Drink, this can’t be a surprise with all the amazing local produce we have on offer here in Suffolk, although really the reason will be much deeper than that.

“Knowing that people in Suffolk feel more valued and have a greater sense of purpose shows just how much people in our county support one another.

“The national mental health picture is still continuing to worsen through the ongoing cost of living crisis and global conflicts – and we are in no way immune from that here in Suffolk – but these are promising signs we can build on for sure.”

Suffolk Mind continues to call on people in the county to take part in the short survey, helping it gain vital insights on the areas where people require the most support.

Fill out the survery View the full State of Suffolk report

Here, Suffolk Mind’s CEO Jon Neal explains how investing in mental health support is beneficial to small businesses, your staff and your bottom line.

During an economic downturn, or recession, or just when times are looking a bit more shaky than they have done for a while, there are always ‘easy’ savings businesses tend to look for.

I used to work in PR and marketing, and those budgets were often the first to be cut when times are tough.

Another contender might be the training budget. Right now, it’s probably tempting to put off any kind of investment in the mental health of the workforce. Let’s do that when we’ve got a better cashflow situation. Or maybe it’s one of those ‘nice to haves’ that we just can’t afford at the moment.

The crucial word here is investment. If you spend money on some sort of mental health support, you’ll get a return on it, just as you would any other investment. At least you should expect a return.

Perhaps it should be seen as the cost of doing business, rather than simply an expense you don’t really need.

I would say that, of course, as I work for a mental health charity that sells workplace training, consultancy, counselling, etc. But ignore me, and Google it instead. Search ‘return on investment for workplace mental health’ and see what you find.

Actually, I’ll just tell you what you’ll find. Commissioned by Theresa May’s Government in 2019, Deloitte released a report called Thriving at Work. They wrote it, along with Lord Dennis Stevenson (who lives in Suffolk) and Paul Farmer, who was CEO of the national Mind charity at the time. Deloitte have updated this report every couple of years.

They have proven, a number of times now, that you get a £5 return for every £1 you spend on mental health in the workplace.

If you were told you could get a five to one return on any other sort of investment, you’d go for it, right?

Not only that, Deloitte also say that the biggest return, sometimes more than double the 5:1, comes from genuine culture change in a workplace.

It’s not just about having a few mental health champions around, or making counselling available to unwell staff. That’s good, of course, but to have an even greater impact on performance, and, therefore, the bottom line, you need to go a bit further.

And that means creating a workplace culture that meets people’s emotional needs.

For example, trusting everyone to do a good job without endless targets, controls or other means of monitoring them. It means giving people stretching, challenging work that they are praised and recognised for achieving. It means making sure everyone knows the meaning and purpose of the organisation as a whole, and how their role fits into that.

These are good practices – not just for mental health, avoiding stress and improving employee engagement – but for great performance that will improve the bottom line. You’ll make more money. You’ll achieve better outcomes. And you’ll also, of course, reduce staff sickness rates and improve retention.

If that’s just a cost you can do without, think about the saving in sick pay, recruitment fees and productivity losses through people turning up to work in body, but not in spirit.

Check out our award winning workplace wellbeing courses at our sister-site The Mental Health Toolkit.

Suffolk Mind has opened up its annual Colour Rush event to more runners than ever this year, doubling capacity to allow for 1,000 runners to experience a flash flood of colour on both its 3km and 1.5km routes.

It is hoped this year’s event on October 4 will raise more than £25,000 – enough to either fund our Helpline for six months, run a year’s worth of our popular GreenCare allotment services or offer more than 500 counselling sessions.

Vicky Matthews, the charity’s Fundraising Manager, said: “Our annual Colour Rush puts the fun in fundraising – so we are delighted to welcome it back bigger and better than ever before.

“The event really is a sight to behold, with hundreds of runners being doused in every colour of the rainbow at the dedicated colour stations along the route.

“It’s a real family day out, raising vital funds to help us on our mission of making Suffolk the best place in the world for talking about and taking care of mental health.”

This year’s Colour Rush will once again be held at Trinity Park in Ipswich, with runners aged four and above welcome to take part.

Runners taking on the challenge last year raised £12,800, with those taking part this October encouraged to raise at least £10 each via their dedicated Suffolk Mind fundraising pages.

This year’s event has been made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors CMG Technologies, Baker Transport, Knights Lowe, GBS Builders, East Suffolk Council, Ellisons Solicitors, NFU Mutual Ipswich and Goldstar.

Representatives from each of the sponsors will run their own colour station, dousing runners with the paint powder on their way to the finish line.

Local businesses Brownie and the Bean and Suffolk Coffee Pod will be providing refreshments on the day, while GB Bootcamp Ipswich will be hosting a pre-event warm up.

Take a look at our 2024 Colour Rush photo gallery Sign up today!

We’d like to say a big THANK YOU to all of these fantastic businesses and individuals who have helped us raise vital funds for Suffolk Mind this month.

EPPH

Thank you to our Charity of the Year supporter EPPH, who held a golf day on Friday 13 June at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club in support of both Suffolk Mind and EACH. Thank you so much for your continued support, and for letting our Vice Chair of Trustees, Clare Taylor, represent Suffolk Mind and say a few words!

Insurance Institute of Ipswich, Suffolk and North Essex

Thank you to the Insurance Institute of Ipswich, Suffolk and North Essex who chose Suffolk Mind as its Charity of the Year for 2024. Throughout the year, the team raised an incredible £7,589.88 which could enable us to deliver mental health training to two entire primary schools (including six EARLY Minds sessions and two Sammy the Sea Squirt Movement Sessions each), plus run our Suffolk Mind Helpline for a whole week. Thank you so much for your invaluable support!

Judy Clark

Thank you to Judy Clark, who arranged to do a collection for Suffolk Mind in her local Asda Superstore last month! Judy raised a fantastic £117.26, which could fund our 0300 Helpline for four hours. We’re so grateful that Judy gave up her own time to run this collection, thank you!

Paul and Steve Tingley

Thank you to Paul and Steve Tingley, who organised a golf day in memory of their brother, Barrie. Together, along with their supporters, they raised an incredible £22,365 including Gift Aid! This amount of money could fund our 0300 Helpline for nearly half a year, or enable hundreds of people to access free of charge of subsidised counselling. Thank you so much! Read more about the Barrie Tingley Golf Day

Sandra Young

Thank you to Sandra Young, who completed an incredible Snowdon Sunrise challenge in aid of Suffolk Mind through Elite Adventures. Sandra did this in memory of her dad, and raised an amazing £233 for our charity. This amount of money could provide four fully-funded counselling sessions for someone who needs our support, thank you so much!

Fancy fundraising yourself? There’s all sorts you can do on our events page or, if you have your own fundraising idea, get in touch with the team.

In less than a month, dozens of fundraisers will soar to 13,000ft before making an exhilarating fall back down to earth in our annual charity skydive. But none of that would be possible without the generous support of the event’s headline sponsor, Churchmanor Estates.

Ahead of her own daredevil dive at the event on Saturday, June 14, we spoke to Churchmanor Estate’s Head of Communications, Emma Proctor King, about why the firm has chosen to support us.

Tell us a bit about Churchmanor Estates

The Churchmanor Estates Company plc is a commercial property development company based in Suffolk. For over 35 years, we’ve been delivering commercial, mixed-use and regeneration projects across the East of England and beyond.

Our focus has always been on creating high-quality, sustainable developments that serve the needs of local communities and contribute positively to the regional economy. We pride ourselves on long-term relationships – with our partners, clients and the places we help shape.

What made you decide to support Suffolk Mind for this year’s skydive?

Mental health affects every one of us, whether directly or indirectly and we were inspired by the incredible work Suffolk Mind does to support people across the county.

Their services have a tangible, positive impact on our local communities, and as a Suffolk-based business, we feel a responsibility to give back where we can. The skydive felt like a brilliant way to combine raising vital funds with a bold, energising challenge.

What made you decide to take part in the skydive yourself?

Truthfully? It’s completely out of my comfort zone – and that’s exactly why I wanted to do it.

It felt important to step up personally, not just professionally. Mental health is so often about facing fear, pushing through discomfort and finding strength in unexpected places. Taking part in the skydive is my small way of showing solidarity with those who do that every day.

Is supporting charities an important priority for Churchmanor Estates?

Absolutely. Community and responsibility are part of our DNA as a business.

We’re proud to support charities and initiatives that reflect the values of our team and the communities we work in. It’s not just about writing a cheque – it’s about showing up, getting involved and making a meaningful contribution.

What does supporting mental health mean to you and your team?

Mental health is just as vital as physical health. For us, supporting mental wellbeing means creating a culture where people feel heard, supported, and empowered to speak up.

Whether it’s through training, open conversations or simply checking in with one another, we aim to ensure our team feels supported both in and out of the workplace.

How does Churchmanor Estates work to ensure your team’s wellbeing is supported?

We take a proactive approach to wellbeing. That includes flexible working arrangements, access to mental health resources and fostering a culture where balance is not only encouraged but expected.

We’re a tight-knit team and that brings a level of care and attentiveness that we’re proud of. Regular team activities, open-door policies and promoting a healthy work-life balance are just some of the ways we try to walk the talk.

What advice or tips would you give to other companies considering sponsorship opportunities?

Choose causes that align with your values and involve your team in the process. Sponsorship is most impactful when it’s authentic, when you’re not just supporting a cause, but championing it from within. And don’t underestimate the power of small actions, they often lead to meaningful change.

Are you looking forward to taking part in the skydive?

I’m somewhere between nervous and excited! But yes, I’m looking forward to it because of what it represents.

Taking that leap is a reminder that we’re capable of more than we think, and if that leap can help raise funds and awareness for Suffolk Mind, then it will be absolutely worth it.

Want to get involved?

If you’re a budding fundraiser or a business looking to support a future Suffolk Mind event, you can discover our upcoming opportunities on our website. Alternatively, you can organise a fundraiser yourself and set up a Giving page.

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘Community’ – which is not only one of our Emotional Needs but also ranks among those met the least well according to our Emotional Needs Audit of more than 2,000 people living in the county.

To help people meet this important Emotional Need, here are our tips to help meet it.

Volunteering

Volunteering can be a great way to get out there, meet people, to contribute to the local area and to meet your emotional needs.

Not only is volunteering a way to meet your need for Community, it can also boost your emotional needs for Status, Meaning & Purpose, and Achievement.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new people, make friends and form positive relationships.

Supportive groups

If you feel you are not meeting your emotional needs, there are lots of group activities that can help you meet them while taking part in something fun.

Groups such as the GreenCare project across Suffolk allotments, a Suffolk Mind gardening scheme, giving people the opportunity to take part in a constructive activity while meeting new people and making good connections.

These activities also keep you active, boosting your need for Movement, and give you the chance to meet people with similar interests.

Community events

There are a host of community events taking place across Suffolk every week – from local sports events and village fetes to music events and dog shows.

These events are a great place to meet your need for Community, as well as other needs such as Movement.

Fundraising challenges

Fundraising challenges can help us meet our emotional need for Community, particularly group fundraisers where you could do it as part of a team.

The Colour Rush event, on Saturday, October 4, is a great example of this.

Our family fun run, where runners don white T-shirts, with the aim of completely covering them in brightly colored powdered paint, is a fantastic opportunity to take part in a community event while raising money for a good cause.

It can help meet your need for Community, as well as Achievement, Status and Movement.

Set up your own community

If a community doesn’t exist yet – create one. If you have a passion for something, it’s likely others will share your passion too.

Knitting groups, book clubs, running clubs, hiking clubs, dance clubs – they all started somewhere. And with social media, it’s easier than ever to connect with people with the same interests.

Groups like this are great for meeting your need for community, as well as your need for Achievement and Status.

Find out more about our Emotional Needs and how to meet them.

Chris Bush and his brothers Sam and Jonathan Broom will be taking to the skies over Beccles on June 14, skydiving from 13,000ft to raise money for Suffolk Mind – where their sister Nicki Bush works for our Suffolk Work Well Service.

Together, they hope to raise more than £1,000 to help fund the work of Nicki and her colleagues across our charity.

Chris said he hopes his dive will be the first of many as he looks towards doing solo jumps.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to do one – I’ve been saying it for years.

“So when Nicki told me I could do one for Suffolk Mind, it was a no-brainer. And I knew I had to rope my brothers into it.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait. My feet have always been firmly on the ground but this can’t come quick enough.”

All three said Nicki’s work in helping people experiencing mental ill health reclaim their confidence has inspired them to take on the challenge

Chris said: “The work Nicki and the team at Suffolk Mind do is absolutely amazing. To complete this dream of mine while raising money for such a great charity is a real bonus.”

Sam added: “The work they do is really important. I don’t think mental health is spoken about enough, especially for men.

“It’s great to be raising money for such a great cause.

“I’m absolutely buzzing for it – I can’t wait.”

The annual skydive event is made possible thanks to the support of sponsor Churchmanor Estates, whose Head of Communications, Emma Proctor King, will also be taking on the leap of faith

She said: “At Churchmanor Estates we are committed to projects that strengthen our local communities, and few causes are more important than supporting people’s mental health.

“Jumping out of a plane is a daunting prospect, but if a few moments of personal bravery help Suffolk Mind continue its life-changing work, then the challenge is well worth it.

“I’m proud to be taking the leap alongside Chris, Sam and Jonathan, and I’d encourage everyone to back us with a donation—every pound will help keep vital services available for those who need them most.”

Donations to Chris, Sam, Jonathan and Emma’s individual fundraising pages can be found by searching their names in ‘find a giving page’.

Angela Barnes, who has been a regular on popular BBC panel show Mock the Week and appeared on Live at the Apollo, will be performing at Seckford Hall on Thursday, June 26 to raise money for Suffolk Mind.

Her announcement as the new headliner comes after the former BBC New Comedy Award winner launched her new Radio 4 stand-up series, Live from the UK, last month.

Acts joining Angela on stage include fellow comics John Mann and Susan Murray, with Louie Green as MC

Former headliner Angelos Epithemiou is unfortunately no longer able to make the event.

Our Corporate Partnerships Manager Henry Tapp said: “We are thrilled to announce Angela as our new headline act for our inaugural Stand Up for Mental Health event.

“Comedy fans will recognise her for her quick wit on their television screens, while her new radio show has captured the very best of live comedy across the country.

“A big thank you goes to our co-organisers, Glass Eye Comedy, in finding us a great new headline act who we’re sure will have all of us in the crowd belly laughing for such an important cause.”

Guests will still be treated to a Greek feast on the night as part of their ticket – with dishes including chicken souvlaki, pulled lamb kleftiko, Greek salad and halloumi

John Mann has previously been labelled a “complete genius” by Radio X host Johnny Vaughan, while Susan Murray has been described as a “feisty fire-headed pocket rocket” by arts reviewers Broadway Baby.

Henry added: “A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors Pitkin & Ruddock, TMJ Interiors, Pound Gates, Bates Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors, Greenscape Energy, MSC and Hudson Group for helping fund what is set to be a night of hilarity for mental health.

“Tickets are limited – so those looking for a great night of comedy and a smashing Greek feast should act fast to avoid disappointment.”

Doors to the event will open at 6pm, with a free drink available before food is served at 7pm and the comedy starts at 8pm.

This is a strictly 18+ event.

Buy your ticke t s

We’d like to say a big THANK YOU to all of these fantastic businesses and individuals who have helped us raise vital funds for Suffolk Mind this month.

Alexander Hill

Thank you to Alexander Hill and the Hadleigh & District Angling Society, who hosted a fishing charity match in aid of Suffolk Mind on Sunday 27 April. The match raised an amazing £300, which could fully-fund five counselling sessions for someone in need of support. Thank you!

Churchill

Thank you to Churchill, who donated an incredible £3,000 to Suffolk Mind! A huge well done and thank you to their team for helping to make this happen. We’d also like to thank Nigel Lucker for introducing Churchill to Suffolk Mind and what we do, we were delighted to meet the team at the University of Suffolk for this cheque presentation. £3,000 could run our Suffolk Mind Helpline for three weeks, so it’s a amazing amount of money which will go a long way to supporting us. Thank you!

Knowles Fleet

Thank you to Knowles Fleet who have loyally supported us for four years! In May we visited Rachel and James for a cheque presentation and they’ve raised a phenomenal £4,236.35! This amount could enable us to work with an entire primary school, both pupils and staff, delivering our EARLY Minds and Sammy the Sea Squirt sessions. As well as that, it could also run our Suffolk Mind Helpline for a whole week! Thank you so much!

Fancy fundraising yourself? There’s all sorts you can do on our events page or, if you have your own fundraising idea, get in touch with the team.

As parents and caregivers, we naturally worry about our children – from what they’re eating, to how much screen time they have and how they’re getting on with friends. We want them to be as healthy and as happy as they can be. So, when they’re not, how do we help?

Emotions like worry, anxiety, fear and anger are normal for humans. However, when they start to prevent us from feeling calm in everyday life, we need to look at what emotional needs aren’t being met to find out why we’re feeling like that. By identifying what needs are unmet, we can start to explore the causes, and only then can we work to improve them.

The facts and figures

At the moment, at least one in four adults will experience a mental health challenge at some point each year*
In 2023, around one in five children and young people, aged 8-25, had a mental health difficulty, rising from previous years.**
School absences have risen following the pandemic, and continued absenteeism remains a problem in both primary and secondary schools across England compared with pre-pandemic levels. It’s also a big issue for parents and families of children who are struggling to attend school***
Across the UK, 28% of 12 to 18-year-olds have not attended school at some point over the last year due to anxiety, with many staying away because they felt unable to cope****

What can parents do?

Parents and caregivers have amazing instincts to care for and protect their children. They are also the ones who usually know their children best. But sometimes, we get stuck. You may feel like you’re not sure what to do for the best, or you feel you’ve tried it all and nothing is really changing. You may have a child who experiences angry outbursts or Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), and you’re not sure what to try.

Go easy on yourself. Remember that you are doing your best
Be a listening ear for your children. If you offer a safe, non-judgemental space, they may feel more confident in opening up. Watch our video about reflective listening
Learn about our Emotional Needs & Resources. We all have a set of emotional needs to keep balanced in order to stay well. We’re born with those needs and we’re also born with the resources in us to meet those needs. It’s a great way to talk to your children about how they’re feeling and what might help them feel calm and balanced

How Suffolk Mind is trying to help

Suffolk Mind has been working with schools across Suffolk for more than eight years. Through our training in classrooms, we aim to support children from age four to 18+ with knowledge and skills that last a lifetime. Children and young people learn about their emotional needs as well as ways to support themselves or others. As part of our work in schools, we offer training for teachers and school staff, as well as assemblies for parents and caregivers.

We’re always being asked by parents for advice and guidance about how to support their children. So, we’re thrilled to be offering a short workshop for parents once a month, for free (during the pilot phase).

Our Introduction to Family Mental Wellbeing for Parents will run monthly as a webinar and last about an hour.

This short, introductory workshop is designed for parents and caregivers, and allows them to learn how our Emotional Needs & Resources approach can support healthier, more balanced family dynamics. In the webinar, we specifically explore the needs of either younger children (under 11s) or older children and young people. These different age-specific sessions will run on alternate months.

You’ll gain insight into what your child’s patterns of behaviour — such as frustration, anger or anxiety —might really be telling you, and how unmet emotional needs could be the root cause. We’ll also share practical, easy-to-apply strategies to help you create a calmer, more connected home environment for your children, and for yourself.

Book onto our workshops

To access the webinars for free, simply input the code SMPARENTS25 at checkout:

Introduction to Family Mental Wellbeing for Parents (Under 11s) Introduction to Family Mental Wellbeing for Parents (Over 11s)

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In her mid 20s, Jade looked to have found the dream role in her high-flying marketing career – but inside, the anxiety of working in such a fast-paced, high-pressure world was becoming overwhelming. Thankfully, our Suffolk Work Well team was there to help.

Jade had graduated from university at 22 and quickly rose up the ranks to Marketing Manager, leading her team on high-intensity campaigns. But that intensity was becoming too much.

“Every evening I’d come home, close the door and cry,” she said. “The thought of going into work the next day filled me with dread.

“Imposter syndrome had me in its grip, and my confidence was at rock bottom.

“I felt trapped, desperate to succeed in a career I’d worked so hard for, but unable to fight the crippling anxiety that consumed me.

“Eventually, I hit a breaking point. I made the gut-wrenching decision to leave my job.

“It should have felt liberating, but instead, I felt a crushing weight of guilt.

“Suddenly, my life had no structure – no job, no income, no routine. Just endless anxiety. I knew I needed help.”

Jade reached out to Suffolk Work Well after receiving a recommendation from one of our employees. That’s when she was introduced to Nicki Bush, a case worker for the service.

“From the moment I was introduced to Nicki, everything began to change,” she said. “In our first session, I poured my heart out, sharing every fear, every doubt and every hope I had for the future.

“Nicki didn’t just listen; she understood. She never judged me or dismissed my dreams, no matter how far-fetched they seemed.

“Instead, she became my biggest cheerleader.”

Jade shared her passions with Nicki – how she wanted to work with animals, stemming from her love of her two cats Gucci and Leo.

Nicki first encouraged her to try out volunteering at the Blue Cross to find fulfilment – a step Jade described as “life-changing”.

Jade said: “Week by week, we talked about how volunteering helped my mental health, gave me a sense of purpose, and reignited my confidence.

“What made Nicki truly special was the way she tailored her support to me.

“I didn’t want to revisit my childhood or dissect my past – I’d already done that with other counsellors.

“What I needed was practical advice to help me move forward, and that’s exactly what Nicki gave me.

“She taught me how to calm my anxiety with breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques, how to make time for things I loved like walking and colouring and how to break my big ideas into manageable steps.”

Our Suffolk Work Well service is a 12-week programme, providing people like Jade with tailored one-to-one support, an introduction to our physical and emotional needs and a bespoke Personal Wellbeing Plan

“Talking to Nicki was like chatting with a best friend who just gets you,” Jade added. “She made me feel heard, valued and supported in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

“I didn’t feel like a burden or a broken record – something I’d worried about with family and friends.

“With Nicki, I could be completely honest and that trust allowed me to grow in ways I never thought possible.”

Ideas that Jade shared with Nicki included a user-generated content cat business on Instagram named after the pair, which she operates today.

“Nicki never told me I couldn’t do something,” she said. “Instead, she helped me focus, prioritise and believe in myself.

“Her ‘make things happen’ attitude matched mine perfectly, and I found myself looking forward to every session, eager to tell her the progress I’d made.

“I truly don’t think I could’ve done it without Nicki and Suffolk Work Well.

“Nicki’s encouragement gave me the confidence to take risks, trust my instincts, and embrace change.

“She didn’t just help me manage my anxiety; she helped me rebuild my life.”

Jade now has her own pet sitting business, user-generated content (UGC) business (@gucci.and.leo) and works at a local cattery while continuing to volunteer with the Blue Cross in her spare time.

She has since helped fly the flag for the Suffolk Work Well service – going as far as to raise £500 through a 56-mile walking challenge.

If you are experiencing mental ill health in the workplace, or need a helping hand in getting back to work – our Suffolk Work Well team are here to help.

Learn more about Suffolk Work Well and how you can self-refer.