From Recovery to Reach: ‘How Volunteering with CPSL Mind Changed My Life’

When Belle completed a sky dive earlier this year, it wasn’t just a bold way to raise funds for CPSL Mind – it was also a symbol of how far she had come on her mental health journey.

For Belle, this wasn’t her first skydive for CPSL Mind. But unlike the first time in 2018, this leap held a deeper meaning – not only as a personal milestone, but as a way to give back to the charity that has supported her so profoundly over the past few years.

“I think this time was far more about what this jump represents – to me personally, in terms of how far I’ve come, but also as a celebration of CPSL Mind as a charity. A way to say thank you for all the support and opportunities I have been given.”

Belle’s journey to CPSL Mind wasn’t simple. She had a long and sometimes turbulent history under NHS mental health services. By early 2024, she had reached a point where she was trying to maintain recovery alone, largely behind closed doors. It became clear to her that isolation wasn’t sustainable – she needed connection, inclusion, and purpose.

And that’s where CPSL Mind came in.

“From the day I first walked into a Good Life Service Good Mood Cafe, the organisation has not only been a great comfort and support to me, but it also opened up meaningful opportunities – a future I couldn’t see at the time.”

Belle found something unexpectedly powerful in the warmth of the Good Mood Cafe in St Ives: a space where people from all walks of life could come together, laugh, talk, and be honest – with no pressure to be anything other than themselves.

“It was the first time I had enjoyed myself in a very long time. It wasn’t an effort. It felt comfortable to just be myself around others.”

But Belle’s journey didn’t stop at recovery. She wanted to give back – to be part of what had helped her feel connected, hopeful, and seen. After a chance conversation with our Volunteer Manager, Belle stepped into a new role as a volunteer and Peer Mentor, beginning with a relaxed and welcoming induction and continuing through our structured Peer Mentoring training.

“The training was informative, compassionate, and delivered to a high standard. We formed strong bonds as a group, and the process of telling my story – something I’d built up so much anxiety about – turned out to be incredibly cathartic.”

Through volunteering, Belle says she found solid ground – not just recovery, but a renewed sense of self-belief, purpose and ambition. She’s now facilitating the same Good Mood Cafe where her journey with CPSL Mind began – creating a safe, welcoming space for others.

“Being in recovery used to feel like an Army survival trek. Through CPSL Mind, I’ve found stability. I’m on solid ground, looking up.”

Looking back, Belle reflects on how she came to CPSL Mind by word of mouth. Her wish now is that more people are made aware of the services and support available.

“I met the Volunteer Manager by chance. It was ‘right place, right time’ for me – but I often wonder what might have changed if I’d known about these services sooner.”

Volunteering hasn’t just changed Belle’s life – it’s enriched her community too. She’s become a source of inspiration, and a reminder that connection and recovery go hand in hand.

“We all walk in different shoes – but at CPSL Mind, it feels like there’s a pair of nonjudgmental flip-flops that fit everyone, no matter their journey. And the best part is, we get to walk in them together.”

Belle’s story is a powerful reminder that the right support, at the right time, can transform lives. We are incredibly grateful to her – not just for her fearless fundraising skydive, but for everything she brings to CPSL Mind as a Peer Mentor, a volunteer, and a vibrant part of our community.

To anyone reading this who might be struggling, Belle offers these words:

“Nobody is saying you have to jump out of an airplane. Just take a deep breath, hold on tight, and give us a shout. Together, we’ve got this.”