Her Drive To Help Inspires Others
When out in the community and someone mentions The Nightingale, the first person they think of is Fiona.
Fiona is our Head of Services and has worked at The Nightingale for 12 years. She's often the first person that people speak to when their world has just been turned upside down. Fiona listens, cares and connects with people while figuring out the support that they need.
We asked Fiona why being the Head of Services more than a job to Fiona? Why does she go above and beyond every single day? Quite frankly, why does she give her heart to this job?
"This year was my 12th year at the charity. How did that happen!
When I started at The Nightingale I never envisaged that I would be able to grow the services to where we are today. To give you an idea of where we were 12 years ago, we had just two therapists, three counsellors and two fitness classes and looked after approx. 200 people.
Now we have five therapists, 17 counsellors and five fitness classes, six therapy groups and look after 650 clients!
My ethos has always been to treat everyone how I would like my Mum to be treated. Taking that first step to get support is the bravest and hardest thing someone can do. So when people pick up the phone to us or come into the centre, we treat them with the respect, care and comfort that bravery deserves.
To see the difference in someone’s eyes once they have been to the centre a few times lets me know that what we're doing is working. It is like a weight has been lifted because they know that they have found a safe place full of love and support. Seeing friendships blossom between clients outside of our centre really is a privilege to witness because peer-to-peer support is a medicine that no one can prescribe.
Although my job role has changed over the years nothing has changed my passion for the work I do.
This is the best place I have ever worked. People say it must be a really sad place to be, I want to put the record straight; this centre is the most joyous place.
For a little charity in Enfield with no government funding we're doing pretty well!"
Fiona is the reason why the unofficial motto at The Nightingale is, 'We never say no'.
The love that radiates from the centre the moment you walk in the door, the 122 5* reviews, the fact there's more laughter than tears at the centre.
We are proud that our services are driven by someone always leading with compassion.
We think we could all probably stand to be more Fiona and give more heart to people in who need it.
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