To mark Mental Health Awareness Week we are bringing you some positive stories from Rosie’s Social Enterprises in Aberdeen.

Rosie’s Social Enterprises provides vocational training, support and work experience for people recovering from acquired brain injuries, mental health and a range of other conditions.  We operate as professional businesses and our trading activities provide income which supplements the funding that is provided through our commissioners Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. Rosie’s Cafe receives additional funding from The Big Lottery Fund.

Here is Andrew’s story:

“I was referred to Rosie’s through another organisation where I had been receiving help for alcohol dependency, at the time I was struggling with the demands of being a full time carer and was under a lot of stress, this then had a negative impact on my mental health and I had started becoming withdrawn. I sought out the stress management classes at LegacyHealing, for I feared that if I didn’t, it’d take a serious toll on me.

After starting at Rosie’s it didn’t take long before I started gaining confidence and it made me feel as though I had a purpose, since then my confidence has continuously improved and still does each day.

I am extremely grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to attend a placement at Rosie’s which has given me the chance to discover skills and capabilities that I wasn’t aware that I had. All the staff at Rosie’s are welcoming and supportive and I have never had a problem asking for help and advice when needed.

They are excellent in dealing with a wide range of mental health issues and they are really good at helping to build people’s confidence, personally that is the main thing I am thankful for.”