Our Heroes: Volunteer gives hope in a crisis

THE pressures of teaching so overwhelmed father-of-two Bernard Welsh that he had to retire early and then needed to turn to the mental health services for help.

Part of his recovery was brought about by the occupational therapy he underwent at the former St Edward's Hospital in Cheddleton.

It involved horticulture, woodwork and other handicrafts designed to rehabilitate people struck down with a mental health crisis.

Slowly the treatment did the trick and played a major part in his recovery from his depression, anxiety and burn-out. That was around 10 years ago, but by 2005 he wanted to give something back and so he became one of the service's volunteers.

With the closure of St Edward's, the operation has now moved to fields, huts and workshops near Leek Moorlands Hospital.

It's here that around 50 people, going through what Bernard had, are now being helped by him.

He is among about 60 volunteers working for the Combined Healthcare Trust which runs the area's mental health services and his dedication has now won him a nomination in the Volunteer of the Year category in The Sentinel's Our Heroes awards.

His name was put forward by Philippa Cartledge-Riley, trust volunteer co-ordinator, who said: "Bernard puts in so many hours working on our different sites that he is invaluable. He is also an inspiration to the other volunteers."

Bernard, aged 61, from Meir Park, retired as deputy head of St Mary's First School in Uttoxeter when his mental health started to falter. He has always enjoyed gardening so that stood him in good stead for the occupational therapy. But he also learned some new skills during his own programmes and, alongside his teaching experience, it all helped in his current role of tutoring the patients in basic skills.

Besides working at Leek, he also tutors at the Bennett Mental Health Resource Centre in Shelton and accompanies the users as they sell their products and plants at various locations including Bucknall, Cheadle and Harplands Hospitals.

He said: "When St Edward's shut there was a danger of the team disbanding but we won the day to keep it going and move it to Leek under the Knivden partnership, where it has extended to other crafts such as pottery. We even have our own kiln.

"It is work that I love and it is particularly satisfying when you see someone in the group making progress. This is even more so for me because I have been where they are and know what they are going through. It's all about building their confidence and making their lives a bit brighter.

"As a bonus it's great when we sell items and we now have a stall at Leek's Buttermarket. We can clear £1,000 in a year and that goes straight back into the project.

"I am delighted to receive this nomination particularly as it will help raise the profile of mental health problems which affect so many people yet still have a stigma around them."

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