Stephen’s* life was chaotic; suffering from schizophrenia he found himself unable to take control of his life. Struggling with alcohol abuse, Stephen lost his job and flittered away his inheritance. It is a cycle that many find impossible to get out of.

Sean Andrews, Lead Evangelist from the Scunthorpe Centre of Mission stuck with Stephen and encouraged him to join a pottery course on Building Better Opportunities, designed to improve well-being through pottery, cookery and exercise. This gave Stephen structure and friendship and soon his life started to turn around. 

As Stephen’s self-esteem and enthusiasm grew, he started to manage his condition through medication and living a balanced lifestyle. Soon he wanted to start investing in other people. He devised the idea to hold a follow-on course called Your Mind Matters (YMM), which he now co-leads, to give practical encouragement to men who suffer from mental-health issues and isolation.