Meet Pete!

Veteran Pete Chapman has set up a lifechanging support group about hidden disabilities in his ExtraCare village in Bristol. Here he discusses the creation of his group This is Me and his busy life at Stoke Gifford Village.

My wife Jayne and I have lived at Stoke Gifford Village for four years and three months. We came to the village to enjoy the facilities that are provided here. We’ve also convinced Jayne’s sister, brother-in-law and cousin to invest in the village and they all love village life!

I took the initiative to set up a support group called “This is Me” right here in our village. It all started when a resident I frequently spoke with passed away at the age of 65, and I had no idea why. Later, I learned from a third party that he had a lifelong disease. This made me realize that very few people know what others might be dealing with beneath the surface. That’s when I decided to raise awareness about hidden disabilities, their impact on people’s lives, and how they cope with them. Talking to each other and sharing our experiences can be a great way to begin the journey of mental health treatment.

This group is important to me as I have had previous medical experience having trained as a surgery nurse and having qualified as a Practice Manager with both the Royal Army Dental Corps and 3 Armoured Field Hospital. During preparation to go to the Falkland Islands I injured my back. Years down the line I ended up back in hospital and after having had a number of operations my spinal cord was irreversibly damaged, I am now wheelchair bound. Saying all this I can now put my past experiences to good use.

What I am most proud of about This Is Me is having people come up and speak about their disabilities and how they impact on their daily routine. I’ve had several residents step out of their comfort zone and deliver talks of their own. Witnessing their faces light up at the end of these discussions and hearing them express how much better they feel after getting things off their chest is truly heart-warming.

The attendee number varies month on month. I can have a group of over 50 attendees or some as small as 15. I have always had good feedback verbally and if one session benefits just one person, then it is worthwhile. The group is on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm.

Here at the village there is always something going on and always someone to talk to. What I look forward to most is the oil painting class on a Friday morning followed by catching up with friends over coffee. Life at Stoke Gifford Village is good!