Carl's Story
Carl was referred to Nightsafe by a local college’s pastoral team in December 2022. He had been sofa surfing at friends’ homes after a relationship breakdown with his grandmother.
Read Carl’s story here:
Carl's Story
Carl was referred to Nightsafe by a local college’s pastoral team in December 2022. He had been sofa surfing at friends’ homes after a relationship breakdown with his grandmother.
Carl stayed at our Night Shelter for a month before being offered a room at our Anchor Avenue project. There was tension between Carl and his family when he moved into Anchor and Carl was diagnosed with depression. Carl was given medication for this, and he sought support from a mental health counsellor.
Carl stayed at our Night Shelter for a month before being offered a room at our Anchor Avenue project. There was tension between Carl and his family when he moved into Anchor and Carl was diagnosed with depression. Carl was given medication for this, and he sought support from a mental health counsellor. Despite the tension with his family members, Carl found stability and belonging in the Anchor Avenue project. The transition from the Night Shelter to a more permanent living situation provided him with the opportunity to rebuild his life and work towards a brighter future.
The relationship between Carl and his family is now positive and all issues have been resolved. He spends time with family members, goes out on trips, and they visit him at the project.
In October 2023, he was diagnosed with autism. The autism diagnosis provided Carl with clarity and an understanding of himself. It allowed him to make sense of his past struggles and challenges and provided him with a framework to navigate his present and future. With this newfound knowledge, Carl could seek appropriate support and resources tailored to his needs.
With staff support, Carl applied for Personal Independence Payment and was awarded. The medication Carl was taking has been discontinued, and he is no longer in need of counselling. The discontinuation of Carl’s medication can be attributed to the positive changes in his life, including the stability and support he found at the Anchor Avenue project, his improved relationship with his family, and the clarity and understanding he gained from his autism diagnosis. These factors, combined with the tailored support and resources he receives, allows Carl to manage his mental health without the need for medication.
Carl feels ready to move on from Nightsafe. Ideally, he wants to move into supported living, and staff will help him. The skills he needs to live independently have improved greatly. His specific skills for living independently include managing his finances, cooking nutritious meals for himself, maintaining personal hygiene, and using public transport. These acquired skills, along with staff support and guidance, will give Carl the confidence and ability to transition into supported living successfully.
** Images shown are not of actual person to protect their identity.
