Finding His Place at The Jays: Richard’s Story
27 Mar 2026
At The Jays, the team is dedicated to helping people build confidence, develop new skills, and move towards a more independent and fulfilling life. Richard’s journey over the past few months is a powerful example of how the right environment, consistent support, and personal determination can create meaningful change.
Richard moved to The Jays in December 2025, hoping for a fresh start, since then, he has settled in remarkably well, forming positive relationships with the staff team and engaging openly with the support available to him. Richard has faced challenges in the past, but he has shown real resilience and motivation in working towards the goals that matter to him.
One of Richard’s biggest achievements so far has been his commitment to improving his health, he has worked hard on developing healthier routines, including planning meals, shopping for food, and making positive dietary changes. As a result, Richard has lost around two stone since his admission a milestone he is incredibly proud of. This progress has boosted his confidence and helped him feel more in control of his wellbeing.
The team at The Jays has supported Richard in making changes that help him participate more in daily life, with agreement from his clinical team, his evening Clozapine medication time was moved from 5pm to 8pm. This simple adjustment has made a big difference, enabling Richard to take part in activities he previously struggled with, such as movie nights, takeaway evenings, and watching the 8pm football kick offs with his peers, something he really enjoys.
Richard has also been thinking more about his future, he shared during a recent review that he would like to build his independence, and one day hopes to have his own flat. He has also expressed interest in joining a gym, saving money, buying an electric bike, and even going on holiday, possibly a caravan holiday. Staff are supporting him to break these goals down into achievable steps through monthly goal planning and regular check ins.
Richard is also taking pride in his appearance and becoming more confident in the community, he enjoys going out shopping, buying clothes and self care items. He recently purchased trainers and a mirror for his room so he can track his progress. Although he prefers support when accessing the community, his confidence is growing, and the team continues to encourage him at a pace that feels safe and comfortable.
Richard has shown responsibility in other areas too, he has reduced his smoking by asking staff to store his cigarettes, helping him save money and make healthier choices. He has also taken big steps in managing his finances, setting up online banking and budgeting with staff support, these small but important steps are helping him build the independence he has been striving for.
Most importantly, Richard has expressed that The Jays feels like the right place for him, in his January questionnaire, he described it as the “best placement I’ve had,” adding that he feels safe, listened to, and well supported. During his most recent care review, he shared that being at The Jays feels like “a fresh start” and that he “feels like a new man.”
Although Richard receives a lot of guidance and encouragement from the staff team, the biggest credit goes to him. His hard work, honesty, and willingness to embrace change have been at the heart of his progress. Everyone at The Jays is incredibly proud of how far he has come and excited to see what he achieves next.
Richard’s story shows that with the right support, structure, and opportunities, people can build confidence, grow their independence, and move towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.
