Welcome to our Case Study section
This page has a list of our case studies, detailing clients problems, and our solutions to them.
- Peter came to this country in 1982 from China as he was unhappy with the quality of life, was oppressed and had no freedom. First Manchester, then to London and then travelled round, he lived and worked in Scotland for 12 years. In 2003 he got a job in a local restaurant but he found he was being unfairly treated and made to work excessive hours for little pay - he decided to leave the job. He began to rent some premises and built up a take away restaurant, working very hard to establish the business. However, after the initial success, things took a downward turn when the restaurant was broken into on more than one occasion and he was eventually forced out of business. His self respect suffered and he had to claim income support while in search of work. In 2006 he was beaten up on a bus in a random racist attack. After this Peter began to feel very low, he even had thoughts about killing himself. His mental and physical health suffered greatly and he rarely left the house. Peter was referred to St Wilfrid’s by the Chinese Centre in January 2008. Initially Peter was very quiet and frightened and for a while would sit in corner and not talk to anyone. In a short time, with the help of the staff, Peter began to converse and get involved with the education classes at the Centre and he began to get involved in the Centre’s community. Peter enjoys the many activities taking place at St Wilfrid’s. Since joining he has taken part in the Literacy, Computer and Skill’s Workshop classes. He has joined group trips to the coast and was able, courtesy of the Centre to attend his first football match in 25 years. It makes Peter very happy that the staff and volunteers talk and take an interest in him. Peter particularly appreciates the support he has received in the Skills Workshop. As a result of coming here Peter has been able to reduce his medication and his doctor is very pleased with the change he has seen. Peter says he feels better every day! So much better that on Friday 31 October 2008 St Wilfrid’s arranged a Chinese Day. Local celebrities, politicians and important people from the local community were invited and featured the Sheffield Lion Dance Team. The event was a great success and our very own Peter cooked a traditional Chinese buffet for nearly 200 people. A remarkable achievement for someone who had been so ill. This was echoed by Sheffield United Manager Kevin Blackwell who paid tribute to Peter’s recent achievements. Peter talks of his time at the Centre recently ‘St Wilfrid’s gave me my life back’ and ‘St Wilfrid’s makes my heart feel good.
- Elaine was working as a hotel cook when she began to experience severe depression, lack of confidence and poor self esteem and generally her life was at a very low ebb. She lived with her teenage daughter who she had brought up on her own since her daughter was 3 when her partner had left her. She found things difficult to cope with and was crying all the time and sometimes while sitting in the house she felt a need to rush out, as the walls seemed to be closing in on her. This led to panic attacks and increased medication from the doctor, and she was now on incapacity benefit having suffered a nervous breakdown. Her life changed after a visit to Job Centre Plus to sort out sickness benefit and to discuss what sort of work, if any, she may be able to undertake. The worker at the Job Centre Plus had coincidentally visited St Wilfrid’s Centre only the week before and mentioned the work that we do. She told Elaine of the various things that she had seen were available at the Centre and said that she should perhaps come down to see us. Elaine took time to pluck up courage but eventually came down to St Wilfrid’s and from that day her life began to look up. She was amazed by the friendly welcome and how people listened to her needs. She was introduced into various classes which included drama, computers and the workshop and immediately the companionship increased her confidence and self esteem. After six months at the Centre Elaine starred in a drama production ‘Blitzed’ about the Second World War, which was testimony to her increasing confidence and showed that she was now ready to take the next step back into employment. Through our links with Business in the Community Elaine then attended a pre employment course in Sheffield, after which she took up a two week placement at the City Centre Marks and Spencer store. This she successfully completed and was offered paid employment at the Store. Elaine’s life has now turned full circle, her mental health problems have diminished, her confidence and self esteem increased and she put all this down to the work done with her by staff at the Centre. When asked what she thought of St Wilfrid’s, Elaine said ‘I have nothing but praise for St Wilfrid’s, where everyone listens and helps in any way possible.’
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