A confidence-building coaching workshop delivered by local charity Illuminate designed for people with mental health issues has recorded a positive shift in self-confidence, resilience and motivation for everyone who took part with the results that some have already found part-time or temporary jobs, some are now enrolled on training courses, and others are volunteering or developing new business ideas.

Cambridge is an affluent place and growing fast, but there are still wards where unemployment and disadvantage are common and take their toll on individual lives. Minimal incomes and vulnerability can lead to depression and poor mental health. While counselling and other therapies can help, they are not always enough to encourage people to take positive action.

Illuminate was set up in the east of England five years ago by two life coaches, Sam Greenley and Maria Varallo, to fill a gap by bringing tried and tested life coaching techniques to people who are suffering disadvantage. It became clear to the team that many clients came to them with mental health issues and Illuminate knew they could use coaching to help clients help themselves - in line with one of the key principles of coaching, that the client is resourceful and, with support, can develop their own solutions. Funding from the Evelyn Trust enabled  a pilot project in Cambridge in 2015 focused on working solely with individuals suffering with mental health issues. The aim was to support people to acquire the skills and knowledge to make positive changes in their lives, plus develop sustainable skills and strategies for coping with change. Illuminate also had a corporate objective to develop a programme that could be a springboard for longer term mainstream funding through the NHS and the public sector.

Sam Greenley, one of the founders of Illuminate, was delighted to report a 100% retention rate on the pilot project.

“We help the unemployed and those on a minimal income to rebuild their confidence, enabling them to make sustainable changes to improve their lives for the better. This project - Confidence for Change - was a mix of workshops and one-to-one sessions that aimed to be the next step for people who had received treatment or counselling but still needed help to boost their confidence and take some positive action. Often people suffering with depression or anxiety close down their lives to a large extent and become very isolated as a coping mechanism. We helped them to become open to new possibilities and believe in themselves, drawing support from the rest of the group.

“I trained as a corporate coach and I believe everyone can benefit from some coaching in their lives. Of course corporate coaching isn’t accessible for everyone, so what we’ve done is tailor a coaching course that’s really meaningful to our client base and is effective in bringing about fundamental change.”

Aside from the essential funding, the Evelyn Trust also worked with Illuminate to provide strategic advice around building local contacts networks. In the summer, consultants Future Business were appointed by Illuminate to help them develop ambitious growth plans.

www.illuminatecharity.org.uk