Ann's Hope Story

Going on the course has changed Ann’s role as a carer and how she thinks about the world – she was previously overwhelmed by the practicalities, particularly when crises inevitably happen. She has learned to recognise that she can’t put everything right and needs to be more realistic: “I’m reframing how I see myself. I have more compassion for myself”.  Hope has helped Ann to step back and involve her son in his own care more.

Ann found the scientific content of the course very interesting and enjoyed the Ted talks, cartoons and videos. The character strengths test in the last week was particularly enlightening – much broader than previous management qualities tests that she has experience with. She is now actively working with her key character strengths in her voluntary role, to use what she now recognises as her natural skills to help better support the people with whom she works. Ann is also using the fatigue diary to pace her activities – “not pushing, pushing, pushing, then picking myself up off the floor”.

Ann describes herself as good at planning and getting things done but had a dress pattern that she hadn’t got round to doing anything with. Her biggest achievement on the course was using the weekly Goal-setting activity to make the dress, by setting small achievable weekly goals.

In week 1 Ann chose the material, sent away for it and cut out the pattern. When the material arrived during week 2, she cut it out. In week 3, she made the body, including the fiddly darts and in week 4, made the sleeves. In week 5, Ann made the skirt.

In week 6, wore the completed dress to the last virtual coffee morning – “I don’t think I would have done it without Hope”.

It brought back good memories of dressmaking as a teenager with her sisters and their mother. Now her niece is advising. Ann’s next sewing project is underway - using some old material that she has had for years, she has worked out how to make a top from a pattern and has washed the fabric in readiness! “Having something purposeful to do works on a spiritual and mindful level too”.

The course has helped Ann to practice self-compassion and “find enjoyable things to do to get lost in”. Now recognising the need for something positive to look forward to, since completing the course, Ann and her son have chosen plants for a new cut flower bed at their allotment – her son did some research and they have potted up the tubers ready to plant out later.

In summary, Ann says “I can’t speak too highly of [Hope] really. I do hope they can run it again. I’ve talked to the Mental Health CCG Deputy Lead and Carers Leads at the local mental health trust about it for the future. It would make a really good tool in their arsenal”.