Carla says:

"I joined SIG in September 2022 as initially the Early Years Practitioner for Bridge House. I remember when Alex Sinclair called me to offer me the position and I burst into tears thanking her. Working in a mother and baby service was my dream and it was about to come true.

Within a couple of days I was approached by our service manager to be given the opportunity to take the full-time position as the Residential Family Support Worker. I was overjoyed to be given this opportunity and grasped it with both hands. I would like to take the opportunity in thanking Alex Sinclair for believing in my abilities and supporting the change in role.

Within my time at Bridge House, I have completed several courses and training opportunities and my confidence has bloomed, as well as building relationships with external agencies, and this has led to having positive outcomes at Bridge House.

I will often be asked, why do you love your job so much? Why are you so passionate? My reason: I am living proof that you can get through anything that life throws at you. I have lived experience and have overcome many obstacles throughout my journey. In 2017, I was admitted to a psychiatric mother and baby unit with my at the time 10-month-old baby boy. I reached out for support when he was 3 weeks old but my voice was not heard. I aim to be my residents’ voice for when they are not being heard, as I do not want anyone to ever feel as alone as I once did in my own head.

Supporting Bridge House is overwhelmingly rewarding. I truly believe everyone deserves a chance to see their worth and learn to love themselves. My main aim at Bridge House is not just to have our mothers move on to independent living, but to reassure each and every resident who becomes a family member that they leave here feeling enough. Bridge House is full of love, laughter, and fun.

I will forever put my heart and soul into building the mothers up and supporting them to overcome past events which could have triggered them into going down a path they didn’t intend to. #TEAMBRIDGE"