Glen Carne - Saint Agnes

Will G.

Before arriving at Glen Carne I had been in emergency accommodation, this was following my home life becoming untenable due to domestic abuse at the hands of my mother's partner. I didn't have a good understanding of what it was to be an independent adult, completely lacking most of the commonplace skills and abilities needed to live independently. These issues were compounded by my being Autistic and living with severe social anxiety.

After arriving at Glen Carne the staff went out of their way to make me feel as comfortable as possible, allowing me to adjust to the new shared living environment, whilst encouraging me when it came to independent endeavours, including in applying to college and seeking support with my mental health. Without this support I wouldn't be as capable as I am today when it comes to independent living. Thanks to the encouragement of the staff, especially Clare, Steve P and Andy, I sought therapy for my mental health, this led to a few diagnoses that have resulted in further treatment and support. I am now confident in my abilities to manage my mental health as well as social environments.

The constant encouragement from members of staff enthused me to treat myself better and seek to better myself, both mentally and physically. I am now significantly more active and fit than when I arrived at Glen Carne, this has resulted in a dramatic change in weight and much better overall health. This was enabled in no small part by the free gym that Glen Carne has available to all residents, as well as the frequent activity based events offered by the service, often led by Andy, Garath and Simon. I now take my physical health very seriously.

I have mentioned quite a bit about how the staff have supported me during my stay, but I cannot ignore the influence and help that has been given by the community of residents during my time at Glen Carne. Andy, Matt and all of the staff have encouraged and created a healthy and friendly living environment for all residents. I very much consider Glen Carne to be almost that of family thanks to the environment they have fostered. Residents truly help to make the service what it is, helping to encourage each other and provide for one another. There are many residents who I have to thank for helping me on my journey during my time with the service, and a few in particular who, along with the staff, encouraged me to get back into art and keeping fit.

I cannot say how much I recommend Glen Carne to anyone who is in need of the service. It may be nerve-wracking at first, entering into a large community with many faces and different personalities, but once you're there, you'll feel at home in no time. And you'll get all the support you could ever ask for. Just don't forget that you can ask for help, it's one of the bravest things you can do.

I sincerely thank everyone at Glen Carne for building the environment I needed to go forwards and build a life for myself. Now that I am living independently in my own flat, I look back with nothing but fond memories of my time at Glen Carne, and hope to the best for everyone there, both future and past residents, staff and of course; the ducks.

Mark M.

At my lowest, when I was homeless, It got to the point where i stole some food and was subsequently arrested. This was the only crime I have ever committed. My support worker at the Coastline Night Shelter referred me to Glen Carne. When I arrived there, I was suffering from social anxiety, depression and an irregular sleep pattern. Through my time with Glen Carne, they have managed to get me three different Talking Therapy sessions with different organizations which helped me.

Glen Carne used different ways of communication with me and they were really patient, my mental health was a bit of a block at first. They made me feel safe, secure and supported, all the staff were inviting, caring, supportive, enabling but with a sense of humour too. They always encourage you to push forward with what you're interested in and to further your education or to get you back into work, or just give you time to get back on your feet.

The day trips they go on are always enjoyable. It's a good way to get out and about with some of the guys and to get to know each other better. It is also a good way to de-stress and communicate with the people you live in with.

During my time at Glen Carne, they looked at my CV and helped me to write a much better one and helped me to distribute it. Through my time here, I have been employed three times, doing part time work, all with the help of Glen Carne who supported me in this, providing me with covering letters, references and lifts to and from work sometimes. They can also help you prepare for interviews if needed. They are really supportive in helping people improve their education for employment. They got me in contact with adult education to further my Maths and English as I really wanted to go into the Caring Profession where this was a necessary qualification.

There's a gym on site so if you want to blast off some steam or to get yourself healthier you can use the gym and there is a cooking class which helps people to improve their cookery skills. There are other courses available.

During my time with Glen Carne and with the support from the staff and other people, have all improved my mental health again and I am now in part-time work and have got a lovely social housing flat. I feel supported and helped and being around people every day just helps you get rid of your social anxiety. It's been a few years since I've had depression and anxiety, all the residents have been helpful and are willing to give a helping hand if they can and they are welcoming. Another good thing is there's sky sports so you can watch your choice of sport and entertainment. The gardens are nice so if you want some alone time, you can just walk around the gardens and take a minute to breathe and just relax and be by yourself and just chill. One of the things that helped me with my social anxiety was the weekly shopping trip Glen Carne do. It helped because I didn't have to take public transport, Glen Carne have a mini bus, so it's straight to the shop and straight back. Your weekly meeting with the staff is good because they can help with some of the issues you're going through and can help you come to a resolution and make you feel you want to move forward. Staff also helped me sort out an NHS dentist and signed me up to the St Agnes surgery.

I would highly recommend Glen Carne to anyone that's struggling or in need of some support or just needs some time to get back in their feet. I can't describe how much it's changed my life, in a good way and I'm super grateful to all the staff at Glen Carne for the patience and support they have given me over the years. 👍

Graham L.

Before arriving at Glen Carne, my relationship had come to an end, and I was living in the back of my van, surrounded by all my worldly possessions. My mental health was at an all-time low, and I couldn't see a way forward; I didn't see the point of going on. I was referred to Glen Carne by the Perennial Charity, which had been helping me with my issues. Upon arriving at Glen Carne, I was warmly greeted by the staff and allocated a support worker, who was my go-to person. Initially, I struggled to come out of my room and didn't want to interact with anyone due to my extremely bad depression and anxiety. During this time, the staff would check in on me regularly to make sure I was okay and to see if I needed anything. Eventually, I got to the point where I felt able to seek help, and the staff supported me in these meetings. Over a period of months, my mental health slowly started to improve, and I started to get more involved with the courses and voluntary opportunities that the project offers. This really helped to improve my self-confidence and self-esteem. I got to the point where I started to do some part-time work, and I could feel myself getting back to who I used to be.

The staff helped with lots of practical things such as getting me the benefits that I'm entitled to and putting me on the Homechoice register. They helped me to get a banding uplift from a D to a B, which enabled me to successfully bid on a flat. I now have the keys to my own front door, and I feel very hopeful for the future. None of this would have been possible without the help and support of Glen Carne. If you're in a dark place and can't see a way forward, they may be able to help.

Ky G.

Thank you to all the staff at Glen Carne for all the help and support they gave me from the day I moved in to the day to the day I moved out. They helped me with my reading and writing, achieving my goals, getting the benefits that I'm entitled to.
They supported around both my my physical and mental health and I'm feeling in a much better place to be able to move forward with my life. Without Glen Carne I don't know where I would be now. A massive thank you for everything that you have done for me.

Barry D.

When I first moved to Glen Carne, I was in a very dark place and was struggling with both my physical and mental health. The staff welcomed me in with open arms and set about devising a support plan, looking at different areas of my life where I needed help. Over the months, I gradually achieved my goals, and I found that my confidence and self-esteem improved, and I started getting involved with some of the onsite courses. They also helped with my benefits, and I am now financially stable; I’ve now got a motability car which has given me back my independence and allowed me to visit different parts of Cornwall. I’m now in the process of accessing social housing and hoping to move into my own home soon. I will be forever grateful for the kindness, empathy, and support shown to me by all the staff, and I would like to give special thanks to Steve, who mentored me during my stay.

Zack ?. E.

Before I moved to Glen Carne I was struggling with substance misuse issues; I was extremely lonely and vulnerable and wanted to fit in with the crowd. I lost the love of my life and couldn't see a way forward; this was when I finally realised I had hit rock bottom. My support worker referred me to Glen Carne; I was treated with dignity and respect from the moment I walked in. Considering where I came from, being treated like an actual person meant the world to me. I owe it to all of you: the staff and the residents. From the bottom of my heart, you saved me. Whether as an outsider or a potential new resident, please read this not for sympathy but for hope. I hope that we'll see better days one day. And with every new day, at least we can say we're one step closer to getting there.,
Special thanks to Simon for all his help and support in helping me to move into my new flat.

Dan H.

Really helpful - I work at a local school in Goonhavern. Matt and Andy have been real superstars in helping us to transport our children to sporting fixtures, creating vital opportunities for them. We cannot thank them enough.

Stefan S.

I was recommended this place after my mental health took a serious beating, and my anxiety got so bad I became homeless. Super shy at first, I thought I'd be completely alone here, but the staff and the residents both helped me get my confidence back in time. And, gradually, I was also able to get my mental health assessed and my debts sorted, which had been holding me back for years. This year I was finally able to move into my own place in a town I love, so I'm in turn now recommending them to you, if you feel like you're struggling to keep yourself afloat.