People of Possability – Clare

Clare has been volunteering for Possability People since 2022. Clare began volunteering on reception and then after a year moved to volunteer with the Community Engagement Team, which includes our Mental Health Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) and GIG Community Group, among other projects and services. Clare is also a member of the LEAG; the group meet regularly with the task of improving mental health services within the area using their lived experience of mental health issues to achieve this.

Clare first found out about Possability People via the GIG Group’s coffee mornings where she spoke to a staff member about volunteering opportunities.  “One of the main reasons I applied to Possability People is because they helped you with transport costs,” she said. Clare  is one of many wheelchair users who finds it difficult to use the bus. “I used to be a secretary and personal assistant, so reception was something I felt comfortable doing. I thought it would be a good place for me to start.”

“You need to have somebody who looks like you, that is like you, who  understands the problems that you might have.”

As a member of the LEAG, Clare attended the Co-production Conference in March 2023.  Clare’s feedback was that she felt there needed to be more steps taken to make such events more diverse. “I do think having role models is essential. You need to have somebody who looks like you, that is like you, who understands the problems that you might have,” Clare said, “it is not just that I want a company or organisation’s pictures to be more diverse so you can see more Black people or people who are in wheelchairs. It is to show the company has thought about the needs and comfort of others.”

“I really want people to understand what it is Black people go through with mental health and with disability.”

Clare talked about how important it is for charities like Possability People to work harder to reach people from diverse backgrounds and to have people within the organisation who understand what their lives are like. “I really want people to understand what it is Black people go through with mental health and with disability and I would like that to be represented more at events and with employment within co-production.” Clare believes part of gaining more representation is through outreach and visiting different community groups.

“It’s not that they were outwardly being racist, but it’s a case of not understanding.”

As a Black woman who also has a physical impairment, Clare has first-hand experience of many of the issues faced due to the lack of knowledge within the healthcare system; “for example, I had a blood test done in London and the phlebotomist there knew the colour of veins varied slightly for Black people and people of colour”. Clare continued “whereas I had a blood test in Brighton and there was difficulty in taking the blood, but only because they were inexperienced in taking blood from a Black person or person of colour, which brings up another instance where diversity should be implemented. It’s not that they were outwardly being racist, but it’s a case of not understanding. It is about the absolute need for diversity and inclusion when training staff.

Living in Hove with her husband, Clare feels she has had more issues since starting to use a wheelchair. “Sometimes,” Clare says, “it feels like I’m almost invisible. Some people treat me like a trolley and just push me aside.” Or people ask her husband questions about her, “and he is like, ask her, she’s right there!”

“Going from, you know, walking and striding to how I am now is really difficult mentally.”

Clare feels strongly that the link between physical and mental health needs to be addressed; “going from, you know, walking and striding to how I am now has been really difficult, mentally,” she said, “it’s almost as bad as whatever physical health issue you’re suffering from; having to deal with the change that happens to you mentally.”

“No one has ever said, ‘how are you feeling about this happening to you?’”

Clare feels that currently no one is offering help for the mental health side of being diagnosed with a long-term health condition. “No one has ever said, ‘how are you feeling about this happening to you?’ It’s always about what they’re going to do with you physically, they will make referrals based on that, but mental health is never taken into consideration.”

If Clare’s story has inspired you to join the Lived Experience Advisory Group and share your experiences we would love to hear from you.

*Clare’s name has been changed to protect her anonymity.