Wendy Risby

I have lived experience of mental health issues and my ethos is to help others by sharing my journey of recovery. Prior to joining the Innovation Recovery Project as a Peer Educator. I had been volunteering with the Western Health and Social Care Trust Recovery College since May 2014. My experience involves co-producing, co-delivering workshops, promotional events and telling my recovery story. This has re-enforced my passion for recovery through education, due to the fact that my own recovery was aided with learning about my own mental health. I have built strong relationships with other volunteer Peer educators and have been privileged to help facilitate group sand learn from the other beneficiaries of the Innovation Recovery College.

My previous experience with the Western Health and Social Care Trust Recovery College has given me a great stepping stone for the role of Peer Educator and I have been delivering workshops from the onset starting my new post September 2018. I am learning new skills and hopefully I will gain accredited qualifications to add to my portfolio. I am meeting many different people and am learning from all perspectives in relation to recovery. After this project concludes, I hope to find further employment either with another project or within the Western Trust. For now, I just hope that I keep myself grounded and not forget why I began this journey.