How community club is offering support and Joy to residents
PRAISE FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF CENTRE, CAFE AND SESSIONS
RESIDENTS have praised a community club after receiving life-changing support there.
Eyres Monsell Club for Young People (EMCYP) provides a range of services for people of all ages, such as a community cafe, CV writing workshop and a toddler group.
Joining the expanse of support offered for residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland on local NHS-funded wellbeing website Joy, the community club’s services highlight the need for “social prescribing” as an appropriate way to help individuals on a case-by-case basis.
Stacie Kennedy, 38, and Carmen Costa, 78, are two Eyres Monsell residents who have had their lives changed for the better after attending EMCYP.
Stacie attended as a child and returned last year for its counselling facilities following the death of her brother.
Finding a support system in the counselling sessions, she was not only able to talk through the complex feelings she was experiencing after losing a sibling, but she was also able to look into an ADHD diagnosis after being signposted to resources.
Stacie said: “EMCYP has helped me so much with my diagnosis and has brought so much relief to me and my family. I now have explanations for the issues I have experienced over the last few years.
“I would be lost without EMCYP helping me. I am sleeping better and can concentrate more.
“By seeing a counsellor, I have been able to identify the root cause of the problem and make changes in my life.”
For Carmen, who lives alone, her social isola- tion was a driving factor for attending the club.
Carmen, who moved to Leicester from Malta 55 years ago, regularly uses the gym facilities available at the club and meets with a personal trainer twice a week.
She said: “As someone who lives by myself, I was finding it difficult to regularly get out and meet with people.
“The EMCYP has built a good community of people, and it has the best people running it.
“It’s had such a positive impact on my life, and I have really enjoyed making use of the pantry, cafe, and bowls club, alongside the gym facilities.”
Rachna Vyas, chief operating officer at the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, said: “We are pleased to hear that a service available via the platform has been able to support Stacie and Carmen through their different situations.
“Their experiences demonstrate how centres like the EMCYP are vital to people across all ages, encouraging them to improve their emotional and physical wellbeing and become more involved in their community.
“Yet, many people remain unaware of these organisations and the facilities readily available to them.
“From fitness classes and community spaces to financial advice, food banks, and counselling services, Joy brings the community to the forefront so individuals can find their support systems and meet their physical, social, and emotional needs.”
As a “social prescribing” platform, Joy helps to directly connect people with groups and activities in their local community.
Following a holistic approach to healthcare, Joy provides a wide range of services to support individuals’ health and wellbeing. Stacie said EMCYP has provided her with vital help and is a testament to how essential community support is within the local area.
“There is nothing else like EMCYP in the area”, she said. “I’ve seen the club grow over the years and there are now so many services available. I 100 per cent recommend the counselling services. “There may be some people living in Eyres Monsell who may feel anxious about travelling into the city centre for help. The EMCYP will be within walking distance for many people and they can then access whichever service will help them best.”
For more details, visit:
I have really enjoyed making use of the pantry, cafe, and bowls club, alongside the gym facilities Carmen Costa