Fay’s story – Peterborough.
“I was first introduced to Circles Network when I reached out for support with my son, who has ADHD. At the time, I was feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how to best support him.”
Fay was a single, stay at home mum. What she didn’t realise was that both her and her son were becoming more and more isolated. Out of work, she’d lost friends and family and her son was also out of school. With no real support network they were scared to do any activities because they felt alone.
Having exhausted every option that was out there, and that had been presented, nothing had worked. She would often find herself apologising to the agencies that would come and go in their support, never really providing any real value or consistency that would make enough impact. They were meant to be helping to make things easier, but any old facilitator would turn up, “someone coming to play” just wasn’t enough.
She’d never heard of Circles Network before – a last resort.
“But to our surprise Circles Network provided a wonderful team who first got to know us and came to our house to talk with us. A facilitator then took the time to get to know my son, his likes and dislikes, his needs, and his goals. This careful, person-centred approach, that we had begun the journey to learning more about, was truly heartwarming. It had initially all felt too good to be true.”
Matched with her son’s needs his dedicated facilitator and support person worked with him for a year. During this time, Fay saw insurmountable improvements in her son’s behaviour, emotional regulation, and his ability to manage anxiety in the community.
“The transformation was incredible and life-changing for our family. It all felt like it was meant to be.”
Witnessing the profound impact Circles Network had had on her son’s life, when a job opening came up Fay knew she had to be part of this wonderful organisation. “I felt encouraged, so I decided to apply. Driven by a desire to contribute to their amazing work, I wanted to give back to others who like me felt alone, with nowhere to turn. I was jumping for joy when I was successful secured the job. Since then I’ve been able to experience different roles and learn new skills.”
Now as a member of the Circles Network team Fay shares “I am proud to be the Coordinator of People and Safety. In this role, I work at the heart of the charity, ensuring that our employees are supported and equipped to continue the incredible work they do. It is a privilege to be part of such a dedicated team, and I am grateful every day for the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of those we serve. It’s not only boosted my confidence and got me back on track, my son and I have been bought closer together. Circles Network has delivered on their mission.”
