At Quo Vadis Trust, we believe that every person’s journey through mental health recovery is unique – and worth sharing. In this interview, we catch up with Rob, a former client whose remarkable story spans decades of recovery, reflection, and contribution. From his early days at Bishopsthorpe Road, to volunteering at our Verdant Lane services today, Rob’s insight into supported housing, mental health, and community is honest, thought-provoking and at times, joyfully funny.
Here, he shares his journey…
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first came into contact with Quo Vadis Trust?
I first came into contact with what could be described as the origins of QVT through the local mental health ward in Lewisham. The ward sister lived next to the proprietor of Bishopsthorpe Road – now known as Bishop’s Lodge, a QVT unit. I was in my mid-twenties, was quite good at quizzes – and that was about it.
My stay proved to be one of the most productive spells in my mental health journey. I met some enormous characters there who shaped me for the rest of my adult life. Despite being the king of not taking my medication at some rather inappropriate moments, it was a period in my life where, looking back, I was loved.
2. What was your situation like before you started receiving support from QVT?
When I moved to Bishopsthorpe Road, I’d just endured the rockiest five years of mental health on the planet. I was severely traumatised and had been described by one doctor as being “sledgehammered.” But my sanity was intact by then, and I had plenty of ambition to fight doggedly. I knew I had a mountain to climb to reach some sort of plateau I could honestly be satisfied with.
It took a while to get going with the mental health services. A psychiatrist kept calling me Stephen, and talking therapies seemed reserved for those who thought increasing medication was the only solution when you were struggling. I owed it to myself to disengage from that approach and then trust the staff who knew me day-to-day and kept begging me to do so! I made it my rule to keep going. It was simply an honour to walk among such good people. The world got a lot less crazy.
3. How did QVT help you during your time with them? What were some of the most helpful aspects of the support you received – emotional, practical, or otherwise?
The staff at Bishopsthorpe weren’t a Wikipedia of orthodoxy. There was Sky TV in all bedrooms (which were en suite), and I even had a small stove in a kitchenette area. Another client turned his kitchenette into a dark room; someone else cooked spaghetti dishes so large you struggled to lift the plate. This was the ‘90s, and if we’d been left as lost causes—as some parts of social care unfortunately do—we’d have had a very different story. But there was a serious side at Bishopsthorpe too.
I started psychotherapy with an amazing practitioner – more like an artist – at the local mental health day centre. That changed everything for me. I can’t emphasise enough the power of that triangle: good supported accommodation, the right therapy, and an approach that worked for me. I got stronger, my knowledge increased, and I developed a philosophical nature towards life.
4. How did your mental health or general wellbeing change during your time with QVT?
After three years at Bishopsthorpe, I moved into a self-contained flat at the end of the street. The proprietor was a bit worried for me, but I managed. I still had access to great services and support workers – some of whom I won’t name, but they were incredibly hard-working and gifted.
My psychotherapist moved on, but her words have kept me going all this time. I had a new psychiatrist who – importantly – called me Robert. It worked. QVT had grown from Bishopsthorpe hostel into something bigger and more organised. We had benefits advisors, cleaners, and staff who were trained in life, not just certificates.
5. What does life look like for you now?
I stayed at the flat at the end of the street until QVT sold the property. I moved to Hither Green Lane with a private landlord who received my rent through housing benefit. My mental health remained stable, even if I looked like I’d been through a Van de Graaff generator at times!
I started volunteering at Mind in Lewisham, where I ruffled a few feathers with my sense of humour and my general knowledge – which, by the way, had pulverised all the opposition back at Bishopsthorpe quiz nights! Volunteering gave me confidence. Our drop-ins weren’t about therapy – they were about community. People came back week after week. It was a craic.
Eventually, I left Mind and started volunteering with QVT again. I helped found the Saturday Board Games Group at Verdant Lane. It’s been running for two years now and it’s thriving – mainly thanks to our non-monetary poker sessions, which are fun (and, I must admit, very competitive… but lovely!).
These days, I travel in on the bus from my council place – secured with support from another superb QVT worker. I don’t live with my girlfriend of twelve years; she’s seen sense! My life has plateaued far beyond what I could have imagined back at Bishopsthorpe. I still have bad days, of course, but at 57, I’m wise enough – and I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve, thanks to the people who supported me all those years ago.
6. How has your experience with QVT helped shape your future or your goals?
I’m not one to have too many goals. I read Great Expectations once. One of my mentors said life had dragged him everywhere – he didn’t know where he was going next. And nor do I.
7. Is there anything you wish people understood better about mental health recovery and supported housing?
There’s no set timeframe for mental health recovery – at least not for me. I’m still in recovery. I’m ill, and it’s not going away. But my life is a dedicated response to that condition. I try to make everything around me coherent and civilised. It’s not always easy, but come on – who wouldn’t rather undertake the challenge to get better?
It took me nearly forty years to get to where I am and to make my contribution to the QVT that saved me. I’d say to anyone trying to understand: if you’re very lucky, a lifetime is the best recovery you can make.
8. If you could sum up your experience with Quo Vadis Trust in one sentence, what would it be?
If I had to sum it up in one sentence, it would be about the encouragement and man-management I received at Bishopsthorpe. They wanted me to go on a quiz show – and in the year 2000, I did. I came fifth.
Thank you, Rob!
Rob’s story is one of resilience, honesty, and community. His experiences reflect the power of the right support at the right time, and how the impact of that care can last a lifetime. We’re proud to still have Rob as part of the QVT family, and grateful to him for sharing his journey so openly.
You can read more QVT news and insights here