I live with paranoid schizophrenia and work for a charity. A very low percentage of people living with schizophrenia are employed.
However, since I started volunteering and subsequently working for the UK’s largest advocacy charity as an advocate, I want others to have the positive and accessible experience of employment. My mission in life is to get people living with schizophrenia employed, and there are a number of things the charity sector can do to facilitate this.
Becoming a volunteer
I went years without having an advocate whilst I was in and out of hospital, but when I did get an advocate it really turned my life around. My advocate was brilliant, she was the first person to ask me what I wanted, and she got me thinking about what I wanted to do with my life and as a future career. This empowered me to be more assertive with what I wanted, and more aware of what works for me and what I want to do.
I left hospital in 2016 and my goal was to become an advocate, but I had little work experience as I had been in and out of hospital.
I started volunteering and particularly enjoyed helping in the care sector, where I could be part of teams in lots of different environments. These included doing gardening in community areas, volunteering in an Oxfam bookshop and volunteering as a receptionist in an advice centre.
The first day I did at the advice centre I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do it, but I ended up there for more than four years. This gave me the confidence to deal with a range of different problems and difficulties, and because of that I believed I could help people in need.
Getting employed
I then got a job with the NHS on a dementia ward. This involved speaking to dementia patients and ensuring they felt comfortable there.
I believe this was helped by having a brilliant support network of friends and family who make me feel very valued, and I think that’s really helped me to get into employment.
In 2018, I joined POhWER as a volunteer, and soon began developing a peer support advocacy training programme. After that, I shadowed a relevant persons paid representative (RPPR) for just over six months. Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit and all voluntary jobs disappeared.
In September 2020, I had a phone call asking if I wanted to be a bank staff RPPR, working with other advocates, and I was in post as an employee of POhWER within a few weeks.
My part-time advocate role working for POhWER involves going into care homes to speak to patients, making sure they are comfortable and have what they need.
Charity employers
I enjoy the flexibility of working part time, as I also work for the NHS in another job alongside my advocacy role at POhWER. This flexibility also allows me to attend hospital appointments and take time for my mental health, which is vital in ensuring I am stable and coping well.
It has taken me 15 years to get into employment and feel confident in my abilities to work, so it is important that my employer is supportive and understands this.
Charities that employ people with schizophrenia should take the time to learn about that person’s needs, and work with them to understand how they thrive in the workplace. Every person with schizophrenia is different, and people need to understand themselves first, then explore this with their employer to work well and effectively.
I am really grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had through volunteering with POhWER and other organisations, which has immensely helped me personally and professionally.
Volunteering was great for me, and all the paid work I do is brilliant, so I want other people to have the same opportunities as I’ve had.
I would really like to see more access into volunteering and the workplace for people with schizophrenia.
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