How I found Headlight and then won an award!

What is Sunderland Headlight?

​​Headlight is a Mental Health Resource Centre that provides information on mental health issues, provides volunteer opportunities, signposts members in the right direction, runs courses and recreational activities, encourages participation and aims to build members’ confidence. Headlight’s vision is: Developing a sense of community for people with mental health issues where they truly have a ‘place to belong’.

I’ve loved Headlight for over a decade and they have loved me well. The people offer a warmth of welcome and depth of care that is unsurpassed. They asked me to be one of their patrons which sounded so posh but just means that I turn up to help where I can ~ a volunteer but my specialist skills to help.

How I found Headlight

I found them in desperate times. Headlight was featured on a reality television programme called The Secret Millionaire where someone with a lot of money goes undercover to volunteer and then, at the end of the show, reveals their financial wealth and offers a chunk of much-needed cash. I watched the programme religiously as it gave an hour of hope in a season of suffering. So much illness had hit my family that I almost drowned in it, but little things like this programme offered a life raft. The summer after the episode aired came another serendipitous moment, I saw that my University was hosting a series of open lectures and one was on the topic of resilience.

I always bound towards any bit of help we can find. At the time my Mother was in hospital in a hellish state. Watching someone you love suffer so badly is immensely hard and we had no diagnosis or treatment; often we had no understanding and very little care. They were hard times for us despite being seasoned in adversity. But that lecture was life-changing for the strangest of reasons ~ it was cancelled! We had arranged for my lovely Mum to have her pals visit her and my brave Dad and I had set off to see what we could learn. When we arrived at the University lecture hall we were greeted by a sad volunteer who apologised that the speaker had not shown up! Then quick as a flash, my Dad piped up, “Don’t worry, Bec will do it for you!” His confidence in me was astounding. In reality, he had been the finest orator I have ever heard, so I was entertained that he deferred to me rather than offering himself… humility and courage combined.

Then…

A week later, a kind gentleman phoned to ask if I would deliver some motivational training for the staff and service users at Headlight! Well, I did the training for them and it was very joyous. Afterwards, in a state of euphoric exhaustion, I sat downstairs next to an old gas fire with a hot drink and they asked me to be a patron. That was the start of it all: lots of speeches, listening and turning up with a basket full of joyous little things to give away. My basket collection has increased to accommodate a range of happy tokens of affection and inspiration.

Something Magical…

Even though it is my task to be cheerful with them, it is they who have cheered my soul. Every time I have entered their big doors, I have received a delightful welcome and endearing care. Their motto is ‘a place to belong’ and the catchphrase I use repeatedly is ‘HURRAH FOR HEADLIGHT’ and everyone repeats it! On the sole occasion that I didn’t use it at an Annual General Meeting, there was nearly a riot!

After that meeting, the leadership team asked me to stay a bit longer than normal. They are a team of tremendous women whose grace shines in their management and care of every person. The volunteers and trustees work very hard which helps the whole place keep growing and giving. So, although I was worried about getting home to check on my brave Dad, I worried silently and stayed a bit longer… and then the magic happened.

It was time for the presentation of The Dianne Smith Award for Outstanding Achievement. I knew, admired and adored Dianne, so it meant a lot to listen to the speech about the person receiving it. It was a good speech and as I looked around the room wondering which good souls would be announced, I was stunned when they said my name! Shabby, raggy around the edges, me!

Dianne had been my first friend at Headlight, she embraced that training session with such vigour and so much care for me. She was brave, funny and kind-hearted ~ a great success of a soul. Now, I have a certificate with her name on it framed and on my sunshine study wall. But, most importantly, her example is etched on my heart. For that, I am eternally grateful. Hurrah for Dianne, Hurrah for Headlight, Hurrah for Hope.

For more information about Sunderland Headlight click here ➾ https://www.sunderlandheadlight.co.uk/