Most Wednesdays, Susan can be found with friends from her local community, enjoying a walk around the parks and footpaths of Brackley.
Susan and others who are supported by Shaftesbury Lifestyle Choices East Midlands are regular members of a local ‘health walk’, which sets off from the town’s library, and finishes up with tea and a chat. Many of the Lifestyles community have communication difficulties and have enjoyed getting to know new friends and members of the health walk during the year.
‘They have become valued members of our group,’ says walk leader Roger Lewry. ‘Susan looks after the walk’s record cards for Shaftesbury service users, and remembers to get the leader to sign them off.’ Friendships have formed from walking together. Walker Doreen Hosie speaks of how much she enjoys meeting Shaftesbury friends in the street, and having a chat. Susan wouldn’t miss it. She loves walking ‘with all my friends’, and getting out makes her ‘feel better’.