Jim, aged 86, discovered Trowbridge Future when he was grieving for his wife, Sylvia, who died of dementia. He found it hard to take the step to reach out for support, but now is helping others who find themselves going through hard times.
"You can come in gloomy, but you come out smiling”
“I was walking through The Shires Shopping Centre one day and I saw the Trowbridge Future hub. And I tried to go in and I just couldn’t. As people always say, making the first move, going through the door for the first time, is so hard.
But I met Robert, who volunteers at the Hub, and he encouraged me a lot. I finally broke my taboo and went in and I haven't looked back since.
I just don't know what I’d do if this wasn’t here. It’s such a happy place. And I try to encourage people like myself and say, ‘Look, once you get through that door, you can come in gloomy but you come out smiling.’ You really do."
Jim has found friends in the group, joining a singing group with them in the town, and organising their own meet-ups. He also continues to value the support offered by the Trowbridge Future staff and volunteers.
“We encourage each other, tremendously. It’s genuine friendship. And we look upon these people for guidance and navigation.
Coming to Trowbridge Future has given me loads and loads of confidence. It's taken away the anxieties you get. When you're living on your own you can become selfish to a certain degree. You don’t mean to but you’ve only got yourself to think about. But coming here, to the Seymour Community Hub, that disappears and you become involved in everything that’s going on."
Jim now volunteers for Age UK in Trowbridge. He feels it’s ‘pay back’ time for the help he received when his wife was very ill, helping people with shopping and lifts to hospital appointments. He has also given talks sharing his experience of caring for someone with dementia.
“You do get your days when you’re a bit down, but the days have gone of being ashamed of mental illness. You can talk about it here and you don't feel embarrassed at all. That's why I love it.”
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