A group of service users from Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) have described a recent sailing trip as “life changing” as they took to the sea as part of their mental health recovery journey.
The ‘Voyage to Recovery’ was made possible by the teamwork and dedication of service users and staff from the Trust’s Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) and At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) Services.
Ten patients and four staff members from CNTW sailed approximately 260 nautical miles from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Largs, Glasgow, stopping along the way at the Isle of Man, Campbeltown and Balnakailly Bay.
Run by the Cirdan Sailing Trust, the Voyage to Recovery supports people from EIP and ARMS teams across the UK to access adventure therapy by living and working on a sailing boat.
EIP is a service dedicated to providing care for those who have experienced a first episode of psychosis, while ARMS supports people who may be experiencing psychological problems or unusual experiences that are causing them distress.
Reflecting on the trip, one service user said: “It was completely out of my comfort zone. It opened my eyes to new opportunities and made me realise there’s more to life than being stressed and worrying. I didn’t want it to end.”
Another shared: “The Voyage to Recovery has given me a whole new outlook on life. I feel as happy as I can ever remember.”
The voyage enabled participants from a mix of ages and backgrounds to connect with others who have similar experiences. One shared: “The voyage taught me that I am not alone with my experiences and my overall journey.”
Many of the crew spoke of an increase in self-confidence following the trip, with one participant saying: “It’s given me a boost, I think it gave everyone a boost. If I can do this, I can do anything else!”
This is the third consecutive year CNTW has participated in the Voyage to Recovery, which was made possible thanks to funding from the Sir James Knott Fund and Cirdan’s Voyage of Discovery Fund.
The team at CNTW has expressed their appreciation to the dedicated sailing crew from Cirdan Sailing Trust for keeping morale high and helping each person reach their potential.
The experience has inspired three participants to apply for an apprenticeship role at Cirdan Sailing Trust, and another has secured a role as a peer supporter within CNTW, using their own lived experience to help others.
CNTW hopes to raise funds to ensure more service users can benefit from this unique opportunity.