News

People with lived experience, voluntary sector partners and mental health professionals have come together for a new initiative that supports recovery.

The Unusual Experiences Group is a thriving community initiative in Torbay that is helping people build confidence, develop meaningful connections and manage their mental health in ways that extend beyond traditional clinical services.

Scott Duffy, Consultant Social Worker and Approved Clinician in the Rivera Core Team, said: "The group was originally established as a psychoeducational group within our organisation and it has evolved over recent years into a genuinely co-produced partnership between DPT, the charity Shekinah and people with lived experience."

The group is supported by a partnership involving:

• Bernadette McAuley, Community Mental Health Development Lead, Devon Mental Health Alliance/Shekinah and Stuart Bakewell, Operations Manager, Shekinah
• Mark Bridgman, Together Associate Director, Jack Kelly, Clinical Associate Psychologist and James Dean, Assistant Psychologist
• Individuals with lived experience

Hosted at Shekinah's welcoming community venue in Torquay, the group offers a safe and supportive space for people who have had unusual experiences, including hearing voices and other experiences often associated with psychosis.

The group reflects the ambitions of the NHS Community Mental Health Framework, which encourages closer partnership working between statutory services, voluntary organisations and local communities. By moving beyond traditional models of care and fostering community-based recovery, the group enables people to support one another, share experiences and build lives that are meaningful and connected.

Jack Kelly, Clinical Associate Psychologist and James Dean, Assistant Psychologist continue to attend regularly, contributing professional expertise while learning alongside group members. However, the strength of the group increasingly comes from the relationships, understanding and mutual support that members offer one another.

For one participant, the value of the group became particularly apparent during a period of significant work-related stress. The individual noticed an increase in distressing symptoms and recognised that they were struggling more than usual. Through attending the group and discussing their experiences with peers who understood what they were going through, they were able to reflect on the relationship between stress and their symptoms, develop coping strategies and regain a sense of perspective.

Their experience highlights one of the group's greatest strengths: providing early support, shared understanding and practical coping strategies that can help people manage setbacks before they escalate into crises.

One member described how attending the group had given them something they had been missing for many years: genuine social connection. They spoke about developing friendships, feeling part of a community and finding a renewed sense of purpose. Rather than feeling isolated by their experiences, they now have a place where they feel understood, accepted and valued. They reported that attending the group has brought more meaning into their life and helped them reconnect with activities and relationships that they had previously withdrawn from.

Perhaps one of the clearest signs of the group's success is that members are increasingly taking ownership of its future. In recent weeks, participants have begun planning a peer-led summer barbecue, organised by the group members themselves. The event will provide another opportunity for people to strengthen relationships, build confidence and enjoy social activities together in an informal setting.

This growing sense of ownership reflects the group's long-term vision: to develop a sustainable, peer-led community where people support one another through shared experience, mutual respect and hope.

Reflecting on the impact of the group, Bernadette McAuley, Community Mental Health Development Lead at Devon Mental Health Alliance and Shekinah, said: "The Unusual Experiences Group is one of the spaces I most look forward to each week. It is a genuinely collaborative space, bringing together colleagues from Devon Partnership Trust and the voluntary and community sector alongside people with lived experience.

"To me, this group represents what meaningful peer support and cross-sector collaboration can look like. It demonstrates the value of bringing together statutory services, community organisations and people with lived experience in a way that dissolves traditional hierarchies and centres human connection."

Mark Bridgman, Associate Director, Together, added: "As a lived experience leader within DPT, there is so much about this group that is inspiring and gives me real optimism for the future of mental health services in our communities. It is important that we now reflect on what has been achieved and consider where else this approach might be applied in partnership with the people and organisations we work alongside."

The Unusual Experiences Group demonstrates what can be achieved when clinical expertise is combined with lived experience, community partnership and a commitment to co-production. It is a powerful example of how recovery is not only about reducing symptoms, but also about helping people build meaningful lives, supportive relationships and a genuine sense of belonging.

As one member reflected, "It's not just a group anymore. It feels like a community."