A YOUNG woman who was able to pull her life back from the brink of suicide after a struggle with anxiety, alcoholism and self-harm says she is now being forced to leave the one place that has given her safety and security.

Lindsey Birch, 25, who suffers from emotionally unstable personality disorder, has been living at a supported accommodation in Stroud for the last three years.

She moved into the specialised shared housing for young people in Delmont’s Lot on the brink of suicide after leaving foster care aged 22.

Since then the staff at Stroud-based organisation OPENhouse have been providing daily support, helping her to make huge changes in her life, make new friends and find a part-time job.

But two weeks ago Lindsey was told that she had been assessed by Gloucestershire County Council’s Adult Social Care team as being able to live independently.

This means that the funding provided by the council to OPENhouse will be completely phased out over the next three months – leaving Lindsey in need of a new home.

She fears that without the help of her support worker and the safety net at Delmont’s Lot, she will be left afloat and could slip back into dangerous old habits, putting all her work over the past three years at risk.

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“By changing my funding like this I feel the authorities are giving me just enough rope to hang myself with,” she said.

“The Adult Social Care team are cutting my hours from 32 a week down to 14 and then to zero over the period of three months.

“After that I’ll have to move out of Delmont’s Lot for good. I don't want to leave - this is my home.

“Before I came here I was in a bad place. I was self-harming, I was drinking, I was walking along railway tracks and I was attempting suicide a lot.

“It was a tough journey, but thanks to the support of OPENhouse I’ve been able to stop most of this behaviour. Plus they’ve helped me get a part-time job at a charity shop.

“I still have bad thoughts sometimes and life is still hard. But being here has helped more than I can explain. Now all this progress has been put at risk.”

Living semi-independently in the shared accommodation, Lindsey says she has been able to get put her life back together and start to trust people again.

She explains this has also helped her get her personality disorder, which is characterised by emotional instability, unstable self-image and poor impulse control, back under a degree of control.

During these three years she has received 32 hours of care a week, which could be everything from complex needs support and advice to help going food shopping or paying bills.

“Going from this much support to absolutely nothing is just too much too quick,” she said.

“I feel like its setting me up to knock me down. I’m scared I’ll go back to the place I was before. I know I’m not going to be at Delmont’s Lot forever, but I’m not ready yet.

“I feel I’m being pushed before I’m ready to jump. The assessment team at the county council just look at me like there is a big pound sign hanging over my head. It’s all about funding cuts to them.

“They never take the time to consult me and they don’t understand the condition.”

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Her best friend and former roommate at Delmont’s lot Natalie Pike said Lindsey’s transformation during her time there had been remarkable.

“She’s made so much progress since she moved in,” said Natalie, 22.

“I don’t want to see her leave, she’s not ready to move on.”

Dawn Porter, head of integrated social care at Gloucestershire County Council said, “When we provide funding for someone’s care, we regularly assess them and their situation to make sure they’re getting the help they need.

“We’re aware of Lindsay’s situation and we continue to work with her.”

OPENhouse is an organisation which provides housing, enhanced support, development and learning opportunities to young people and vulnerable individuals in the Stroud district.

Access to the service is made by registration with Stroud District Council who meet weekly with Gloucestershire Youth Services, OPENhouse and others to consider applications via Stroud Youth Housing Allocation Meeting.

Residents have their own room and use of shared kitchens and bathroom facilities in a friendly, relaxed environment.

Everyone has their own Key Worker who provides one on one support and guidance with Personalised Support Plans which all are required to engage with to develop their life skills and experience in education, training, creative learning, volunteering and work opportunities.