06/02/2026
.From a quiet coffee… to finding her people!
When MS was first referred for support, life felt heavy.
She needed space to breathe, time for her and a way out of some very difficult circumstances.
She told us she loved craft, wanted to get out more and hoped to meet new people but at the time, her social circle was very small.
We started simply.
A coffee. A chat. A safe space to talk.
Then she took a small step and visited one of our drop-ins.
That’s where things began to change.
At Kingshurst BYOC, MS instantly clicked with the group. She joined in with conversations, picked up a deck of Uno (which everyone loves)… and quickly became very good at it. Soon, she was bringing craft activities to share with others, creating moments of laughter, creativity and connection.
In November she mentioned something she’d always wanted to do visit the Festive Gift Fair at the NEC. She’d never been. Others in the group hadn’t either.
So we went together.
That day out became the start of our BYOC Socials supporting each other with travel, spending time together and building confidence along the way. MS was completely in her element.
Her confidence continued to grow. She became a volunteer with SAtA, leading craft sessions at our BYOC Tea Chest group, which were a huge hit. She’s since gone on to run craft activities at two local day services and is now exploring the idea of turning her passion into a business and even training as a Teaching Assistant.
Today, MS is a valued member of the Kingshurst BYOC community. She brings creativity, kindness and sometimes even Teddy, her chihuahua 🐶 She’s made genuine friendships, stays connected through the group WhatsApp and supports others with the same warmth she once needed herself.
Seeing her each week happy, settled and thriving is an absolute joy.
This is what community, connection and belief can do ✨
👉 If you’d like to know more about our services:
📞 0121 706 4696
🌐 www.solihulladvocacy.org.uk
