A Northampton resident, who left his IT career due to severe anxiety, has credited a local social prescribing service for helping him regain hope and purpose.

Mark, 54, a lifelong Northampton resident, has battled mental health issues since his teenage years. In 2020, his escalating anxiety led him to make a drastic decision.

“I had been working in a computer programming role, and I just hated it,” he shared. “Every single day I would drive to work and try and think up reasons why I couldn’t go in. I’m afraid to admit, from time to time I even considered running my car off the road so I had a reason for not turning up.”

The situation became unbearable, prompting Mark to resign. Initially, he felt relief but soon realised that work had provided structure to his days. Without it, he became increasingly isolated.

“I stopped going out,” he admitted. “I would visit the shops maybe once a week, but for the rest of the time I became housebound, and I completely lost my sense of worth.”

As his mental health deteriorated and financial pressures mounted, Mark began claiming Universal Credit. During this period, a work coach at his local job centre introduced him to a new course at Workbridge, the vocational education arm of St Andrew’s Healthcare, a charity specialising in complex mental health.

“He explained that it was a five-week course designed to support people unable to work due to mental ill health, helping ease them back into employment,” Mark recalled. “The thought of going somewhere new with people I didn’t know filled me with anxiety, but I rang them up and immediately felt at ease. So I went along the following week, and I haven’t looked back.”

Mark enrolled in a cooking course, where he learned to make sourdough and cakes. Despite ongoing anxiety, the supportive environment at Workbridge has been transformative.

“After all these years I feel like I’m being useful and have a purpose again,” he said. “I’m now starting to think about my next move, and I am currently considering volunteering at St Andrew’s. I feel like Workbridge has helped me to start living again.”

The Community Skills and Wellbeing course was made possible by a £60,000 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by West Northamptonshire Council. The programme aims to enhance local skills and foster positive change within the community.

Councillor Daniel Lister, cabinet member for Local Economy, Culture, and Leisure at the council, highlighted the programme’s significance.

“This story is a powerful reminder of the profound impact community-focused initiatives can have on real lives,” he said. “Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we’re able to support vital programmes like Workbridge, which not only help individuals like Mark regain their confidence and sense of purpose but also strengthen our communities as a whole.”

Referrals to the Workbridge vocational programme can be made through the Wellbeing Launchpad via Social Prescription or the Department of Work and Pensions. Self-referrals are also accepted for those who meet the criteria.

Julie Pritchard from the Department of Work and Pensions Partnership team in Northampton praised the collaborative efforts.

“This is another example of the amazing work that our Jobcentre work coaches are doing in Northampton,” she said. “By working closely with our excellent local providers, such as Workbridge, we source the best possible courses for our Universal Credit claimants.”

Participants in the five-week programme receive support from skilled tutors, helping them realise their potential. The course offers opportunities to learn new skills, build resilience, and gain confidence, with the goal of assisting participants in securing employment.

Jenny Lane, Workbridge Education Manager, expressed her enthusiasm for the programme’s success.

“We’re thrilled to provide this programme, which focuses on helping people get back to work once they feel able to,” she said. “For more than 40 years, Workbridge has been providing a bridge for people to find work.”

Lane acknowledged the challenges faced by those with mental ill health and emphasised the importance of support.

“Mental ill health can be incredibly debilitating, and very often we know people want to work, but sometimes they are just unable to due to a number of barriers in the way,” she noted. “But we’re here to help them overcome them, inspiring hope and showing them their true potential.”

Reflecting on Mark’s journey, Lane added, “I know Mark very nearly backed out of the programme, so to hear how far he has come is so rewarding.”