Lucy's Story - Armed Forces Community Programme
Please note that all names have been changed.
Sustaining a life altering injury whilst on exercise in Canada, Lucy was facing Medical Discharge from her career as an Aircraft Technician in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps, (REME) when she was referred to Step Together Volunteering by her Personnel Recovery Officer.
Lucy was suffering from depression and anxiety due to the impact of her physical injury and facing losing the life she had created for herself. Prior to her injury, she was a competitive martial artist, travelling the world fixing and maintaining aircraft on tour in places such as Afghanistan, living a very active and fulfilling life with no desire to leave the forces or a plan B.
Initially, Lucy wanted to volunteer to fill the void of grey space whilst recovering from her injury at home. She was interested in volunteering in the Gardens at a local stately home, but she was struggling with her mental health whilst navigating life with less mobility. Nervous about how to arrange a placement and unsure if she could manage to leave the house at this point in her journey, she was pleased to accept the support of our Project Manager to facilitate her aspirations.
“Volunteering has allowed me to ease into working again after my injury, it has taught me how to work within my abilities and how to adjust my working style to accommodate for what I’ve lost to my injury. It has also helped me to get out and learn to socialise with people more, which has been incredibly difficult for me since being medically discharged.”
We asked Lucy...
How did you feel being a part of the team?
''The team has been wonderful; it is an incredible welcoming environment and the Project Manager is great at helping everyone get involved regardless of their abilities. I feel very comfortable within the team, there is a range of people with a range of abilities and experience and as a result there is always the opportunity to learn something new. There is always something new to do, and the project manager is great at being able to schedule projects for the volunteers that allow the team to see it through from start to finish even though each team is only on site once a week, this focus on team project completion is incredibly beneficial to my mental health.”
Have you noticed any improvements in your physical and or mental health due to volunteering?
“My mental health has been much lighter since starting to volunteer at the Gardens, it is incredibly healing to be able to provide a service to an environment that focusses completely on nature, and to assist the full-time staff with regular tasks which frees them up to work on bigger projects that will enhance the park and the visitor experience.”
Has volunteering supported your future goals and aspirations in any way?
“Volunteering at the Gardens has given me the ability to understand and better care for my own vegetable garden, this has been an ambition of mine for many years and it is wonderful to be able to discuss and problem solve with like-minded people. It has also been incredibly helpful with learning how to socialise with non-military personnel which was one of my biggest concerns with transitioning into the civilian sector.”
Have you found the support of Step Together Volunteering to be useful to you? If so, how?
“Incredibly, [my Project Manager] Sarah is an excellent resource and a wonderful person, our conversations are incredibly helpful and meaningful, and no detail is too small for her to work with. Even when my mental health is struggling and I don’t know what I want/need she is able to ask the right questions to help me find my way and can provide options to suit. I have never felt judged, or unsafe, or unsure during our conversations, I have always felt safe, and supported, and seen. My mental health is always lighter by the end of the call. The support I have received from Step Together Volunteering has been second to none and has made a massive impact to my mental health.”