Helping Angela "move forward"

“I do truly feel blessed to be here. It’s changed my life. I’ve had mental health input for a long time but living here is the first thing that is truly helping me move forward,” says Angela who moved to Moor House last year following a four-year stay in hospital.

“I’ve suffered with mental health issues since I was 14 and I never thought I would get to this point. I started self-harming when I was 7 and I thought that I would never stop. But I don’t self-harm anymore,” she says before adding, “I’ve had some very dark days. It’s nice to have a chance at life here. I feel really safe here.”

For Angela, Moor House is her first stable home, and with the help of staff – “they’re always there ready to support you” – she is carving out a new life.

“I was so excited when I found out that I’d got a place here. I had to wait to move in as the transition period was about two months and I was so impatient! But I was allowed to come and spend time here so I could picture where I was going to put everything, and it was really exciting!” Angela smiles and then pauses for a moment.

“I’ve never really had a stable home. I feel safe and secure here. And it’s so nice to have my things around.”

And one of Angela’s most prized possessions is her ginger and white cat, Boris. She beams when Boris purrs to catch her attention.

“I couldn’t believe it when they said that you can have pets because my mum had to have my cat when I was in hospital. It’s absolutely amazing to be able to have Boris here. He’s my whole world,” Angela remarks.

Moor House is helping Angela to rediscover her love and drive to create, and passion for the outdoors. An artist, she completed the last year of her fine art degree in hospital.

“I didn’t have the space in hospital or the materials to do what I wanted to do. Being here I have that space. So, I’ve just started painting,” she smiles.

One of Angela’s paintings, ‘Let the light shine in’, takes pride of place in the foyer of Moor House.

Angela also enjoys visiting the Cart Shed, an outdoor woodland craft group where she puts her creative skills to use making items from willow and woodwork.

“I love being outside,” Angela says. “I did things like this a long time ago, but I wasn’t in the right place to be involved because I was so unwell. But I can now actually concentrate and do something.”

“I’d lost my skills, and my confidence, and I think that’s what Moor House provides – those skills and that confidence and support to be able to go out and be independent.”

She enjoys spending time in the beautiful, quiet grounds surrounding Moor House.

“If I was out in the community, there’s no way I’d leave my door open, but I feel really safe here. I will leave my door open for Boris. Everyone’s really friendly,” she adds.

A canvas art print Angela is working on, using the intricate Japanese art of Kintsugi, sits in the centre of her beautiful, homely lounge which is adorned with photos of family and friends.

When asked what the painting represents to her, she says softly, “There’s always hope. The moodiness of the sky represents a kind of despair and hopelessness, and just the dark days. But the gold and what will be silver in the corner represents the cracks, where the light will always shine through.”

She pauses and adds, “I get up every day and I fight even though I feel hopeless because you have to keep fighting. And Moor House, they hold that hope for me sometimes when I can’t carry it, and that’s just invaluable.”