Denis is Content and Loving Life at Ty Bryn Bach

In this blog we are going to be talking about another success story from the Ty Bryn Bach Service, of Expanding Horizons. In this edition, we will be talking about Denis’s journey to a better life!

Denis, aged 38, has been a service user at Expanding Horizons for 10 years. In this decade, Denis has been through up’s and down’s in his battle with his mental health, with Expanding Horizons team endeavouring to find the best fit for Denis within our services. However, in the last year Denis has made great improvements that can be directly attributed to him moving into his own flat, within the Expanding Horizons service at Ty Bryn Bach, in Abertridwr.

Denis loves football, watching films (particularly Home Alone), playing on his Xbox and listening to music such Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, Roy Orbison and LeAnn Rimes. He also loves going out into the community and playing pool!

Over the years, Denis has been working towards leading a life of independence and through years of supporting Denis in his journey, we are so pleased that we have reached the point where we can provide him with his own flat, whilst still being supported. Denis’s new home provides him with a calm environment and an independence that we understand he loves.

After spending much of his childhood in Germany, Denis moved to Cardiff in 1988 (He is also a big Cardiff City fan!), he then moved to Abertridwr in the early 90’s. Abertridwr is home to Denis and his family and friends are all in the vicinity.  Denis is well known and popular within the local community, so it is a great fit.

Managing Director, Tim Jenkins said “It is amazing that we were able to develop the private flat for Denis in his hometown, and this has undoubtedly been a major factor in the significant improvement in his mental health. We always strive to find the best fit for our service users in terms of their environment, and it is of the upmost importance to us that our service users feel safe, at home and comfortable. After a few placements, Denis is now settled in Ty Bryn Bach and if he is happy, we are happy!”

Denis said “I feel so at home in my flat, it’s nice and quiet and I like being so close to my family and friends. Abertridwr is where I am from so it’s nice to be living here.”

Another factor that has helped Denis, has been the arrival of Support Worker Istvan Racz. Istvan is another Abertridwr local and has known Denis for a long time. His knowledge of Denis’s story has allowed the Expanding Horizons team at Ty Bryn Bach to understand Denis more and provide greater support. Istvan and Denis often go out together in the local community, to the shops and to Cardiff city matches.

Istvan said “It is amazing to see how Denis has progressed in his life, to see him enjoying his independence in his own flat is incredible, and it is a true testament to his journey and the work that Expanding Horizons do to support its service users. I have known Denis since his childhood, and I have never seen him so relaxed as he is now Well done, Denis!”

Tina Fishburn, Service manager at Ty Bryn Bach said “Denis is a kind and generous person, and I am certain he has found his home here at TBB. He gets on well with his fellow service users, which hasn’t always been the case. He also has more independence in terms of his day-to-day activities such as his finances, household chores, catching buses to where he wants to go, doing his shopping, preparing his meals and much more. We always support Denis but understand his need for independence.”

A huge well done to the Denis and the Expanding Horizons team for supporting this journey of progression, this story like so many others within our organisation perfectly embodies the great work we do for our service users.