Posted on: 13th September 2023

Hilary Brooks, the Mental Health Support worker at the Crypt, often takes clients on day trips. These trips are fun activities that can improve the mental wellbeing of clients. In a relaxed environment, clients are supported and encouraged to share in a safe and trusting environment and may be able to unburden themselves. A particular success are the fishing trips, which are in high demand amongst the clients. 

Hilary receives referrals through the Crypt staff and other Live Well Leeds partners to work with clients suffering with their mental health.  

LiveWellLeeds is Leeds City Council’s community-based mental health support service for adults. It went live on 1st April 2019, and is made up of 16 organisations including St George’s Crypt. 

Through Hilary, clients can access other groups and courses that Live Well Leeds run. Clients talk with Hilary, share their interests and she works with them to organise engaging activities that could be beneficial. 

These day trips can improve client’s mental wellbeing and as a result work towards their recovery journey. For clients regularly involved in these trips, it can even offer leadership opportunities in the future, as they work with Hilary and the wider team to develop the client-led program. 

A former resident, Ady, lived at one of the Crypt sites, Regent Lodge, for 20 months, and is now living independently. Regent Lodge is a block of flats offering bespoke supported provision for 14 adults with long-term alcoholism. The staff work with residents to support them to decrease their alcohol consumption with the overall aim of abstinence and independent living. 

Ady struggled with his mental health. He said that moving into Regent Lodge was a “godsend” and that the day trips really helped him. 

Ady said that the Crypt “helped me reduce my alcohol” and “from being in the Crypt to Regent Lodge the days out with the Crypt, walking, fishing...I’ve had a lot of help and I’m in a completely different place now, I’m much happier.” 

“I know that if I were ever in that situation again, I know I’d be welcome back and they’d do the same and look after me again. I know they are not just going to leave me and dump me. It’s constant care with them and I do appreciate it.”  

“I have no words for how much they’ve looked after me”. 

Ady has gone on to set up an online social media focused support network, ‘Be the Stigma’, (https://www.facebook.com/groups/956456021353842) which offers a safe space to share mental health stories, support and connect. 

Hilary Brooks, mental health support worker, said that she finds “fishing has been a very popular past time which is really relaxing and calming for our clients.” 

When asked why these trips can be so beneficial to client’s mental health Hilary said that:  

“Frequently people I work with have not had stability. I find this continuity helps support them in their journey to recovery. I have seen people start to find confidence and do things that they may have struggled with in the past. Some of the people I have worked with then have been involved in helping lead an event such as fishing and cooking.” 

These day trips contribute to the Crypt’s mission of supporting the vulnerable in Leeds by leading to pathways of activities, support and training to enable people to become independent. Foremostly the aim of changing lives in the city.  

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St George’s Crypt in Leeds is a Christian charity which has been working to providing hope and support for the hundreds who access the charity’s services every week since the founder Don Robins first opened the doors in 1930 and welcomed people into the Crypt.