Therapeutic volunteer to supportive peer – Jaki's story

When Jaki first moved to Somerset in 2022, she was looking for a fresh start. Having spent most of her life caring for others, she hadn’t had the space to look after her own mental wellbeing. 

After joining a Health and Wellbeing Workshop at Ark at Egwood, Jaki realised just how lonely she’d become and how much she’d been masking her emotions. To break that cycle and to find out who she was again, Jaki became a volunteer with the charity – a place where she felt it was okay to not be okay. 

"I’ve progressed from a Therapeutic Volunteer to a Peer Champion, Mentor, and Co‑Facilitator, and my role keeps growing as new opportunities come up," she explains. "I support people one‑to‑one and in group sessions, and co‑facilitate the Live Well With Pain 11‑week workshop, drawing on my training and lived experience.

"I recently spoke at a Live Well with Pain conference, sharing my journey and the value of peer support. It’s at the heart of everything I do, creating a space where people feel heard, understood, and able to engage at their own pace.

"As someone with lived experience, I bring a peer perspective that helps create a safe, supportive environment for others. My involvement also helps demonstrate the value of peer-led support and recovery journeys. 

"Volunteering has helped rebuild my confidence and sense of identity. I didn’t expect how much I would grow from feeling anxious and overwhelmed to co-facilitating groups and speaking at events. It has reduced my isolation, given me purpose, and helped me understand myself better."

Jon Richards, Armed Forces Lead for the charity, says Jaki is the voice of lived experience within the session facilitation team. He continues: “The feedback we have had from each of the workshops she’s led has included comments about how people who live with persistent pain have found themselves again, reporting both improved mental health and more confidence in managing their lives and chronic conditions.”

Since joining Ark at Egwood, Jaki has gone from feeling like she’s lost herself to slowly rediscovering who she is: "I’ve built meaningful relationships, developed new skills, and taken opportunities I never imagined I’d be capable of.

"I would recommend volunteering because it can be a powerful step in your own recovery and personal development. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m passionate about helping others see that they are capable, too."

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