Sam recently left our Worcester property after five years; we see her move, to her own home with more independence, as a positive thing. She was kind enough to tell us her story:
Sam outside her new home
In 2017 I went to visit someone who had just moved into supported living and loved her flat. I went home and told mom and said that I would love a flat like that. Mom did a bit of investigating and we were all very excited because there were two flats available. Baskerville Hall is in a lovely road, in a nice area, close to mom and dad, within walking distance to town and where I work at the Co-op. It seemed too good to be true.
Both flats were lovely but I picked mine because it had a bath (I love bath bombs) and because it had a lovely window in the lounge. The bedroom was huge! I had a phone with a screen so I could see who rang my doorbell and let them in – or not! I was very excited the day I moved in and a little bit nervous. But everything worked out so well. Everyone was lovely and the support staff were great.
Five years I was there and I learnt so much to help me be independent. I loved my flat and everyone who came to see me loved it too. I was so proud of it. I looked out onto a lovely road that had lots of lovely trees in it. Although they did make a bit of a mess when the leaves dropped. I could easily walk to work as it only took 10 minutes and could also walk to town in 10 minutes. I felt very safe and thought I would be there forever. But I met Dan, my boyfriend, and he started to talk about getting a place together. I was very nervous leaving supported living but now have a little house with a little garden just up the road. If it had not been for the flat and support, I probably would still be living at home with mom and dad.
Mom keeps telling me I was so lucky to have had such a good start in a lovely flat in a lovely neighbourhood and she feels that this made such a difference to how I became more independent.
I miss everyone at the flats and I also miss my landlords. I used to ring if something went wrong and they sorted it quickly, like my bath that kept gurgling.
— Sam Brewer
Sam unpacking and getting settled in her new home
We’re so proud of how Sam has grown, she’s a lovely person and has been a model tenant, we we’ll miss her too.