Six months ago, 26-year-old Alice Postans could barely look people in the eye. She had severe anxiety, PTSD, depression, epilepsy and arthritis, and rarely left her home.
Now she’s found her confidence, is planning a new career and even helped host an event for project partners where she talked about how the ASPIRE programme has changed her life.
In Autumn 2022, Alice signed up for ASPIRE and chose to join the eco-therapy course, our weekly weight-loss programme and the Keen2Cater level two training course.
With the support of our teams, Alice helped cook a three-course meal for more than 30 representatives from partner organisations and was happy to talk about the impact ASPIRE has had on her life.
“A lot of people in my life have doubted me so having that impact on someone to make them feel inspired and to feel that proud of me is an amazing feeling and shows that I’ve achieved a lot.
“People believe in me now.”
Alice is now going back into education and planning a career in mental health to help give young people who are struggling more of a voice.
“When I started I was really nervous – one of the people at ASPIRE will tell you I couldn’t even look her in the face,” she said.
“My confidence has grown and my depression and anxiety are practically non-existent.
Alice knows only too well the detrimental impact mental health issues can have and says the ASPIRE project has turned her life around.
“I can’t believe I’m like this now, it’s like two completely different lives – how I was to what I’m like now.
“It has allowed me to be who I really am. To anyone thinking of joining, I would say ‘do it’ – it will be the best decision you’ve ever made.”