Praise for life-changing work of mental health charity

Sean Bright has been attending a range of sessions at the Guildford charity

A Guildford mental health charity has been praised by one client for helping him to turn his life around.

Sean Bright, 54, has been attending sessions at Oakleaf, in Walnut Tree Close, for the past six months.

Mr Bright, who has mild schizoaffective disorder and ADHD, said after "losing the fight" with his mental health and being sectioned seven times in seven years, he’s now getting ready to apply for jobs again.

He said Oakleaf, which offers services including counselling and a job clinic, helped him realise he needed to accept care in order to deal with his mental health issues, something he had been “resistant” to.

Oakleaf was formerly an occupational health ward in Brookwood Hospital, before the asylum closed and the ward relocated to Guildford.

Along with counselling and a full calendar of wellbeing activities, the charity runs a gardening service with clients including Guildford Borough Council, investing the money made back into Oakleaf’s work.

A £626,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund will go towards a new five-year Path to Success employment project, helping people re-enter or enter the workplace through tailored and holistic support.

Mr Bright said: “What Oakleaf has really done for me is enabled me to look at my mental illness as something, put it into a frame.

“And I'm gradually pulling my life out of the mental illness, which is what I need to do to live the life that I delight in, and that's the process I'm in.”

The charity offers support to those over 16 needing help with their mental health

Mike Over, 65, has worked at Oakleaf for three years and said it’s rewarding seeing clients forming trust, helping each other out and gaining in confidence.

But he said there is no typical day at the charity.

“You don't know who's going to walk through the door, in what state, or what they want,” he said.

Oakleaf's deputy chief executive, Jen Clay, joined as a volunteer when finishing her Master’s degree.

She believes everyone needs people around them particularly during “difficult challenges” or when they fall on hard times.

She said: “Many people might be lucky enough to have emotional support and encouragement from friends or family in life.

"But that is not always the case.”

Mike Over says his role at Oakleaf is rewarding

The charity, which offers support to anyone over the age of 16, will deliver the Path to Success project alongside Guildford Action, a charity supporting homeless people and isolated families.

Joanne Tester, chief executive at Guildford Action, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with our friends from Oakleaf on this project which will give hope and opportunities to a diverse group of people.”

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