As part of our 40 Stories for 40 Years campaign, we’re sharing 40 individual stories that reflect the journey, people, and moments that have shaped Umbrella since 1985. Each story highlights a different voice from within our organisation, celebrating the experiences, relationships, and memories that continue to define who we are today.
This story comes from Jeni, one of Umbrella’s service users, who first joined our groups looking for friendship, understanding and a place where she could simply be herself.
Through Umbrella, Jeni found lifelong friendships, built confidence, learned new skills and discovered a community where she felt accepted without judgement. Although ill health has meant she has been unable to attend for some time, the impact Umbrella has had on her life has stayed with her, and she wanted to share her heartfelt thanks as she reaches the age of moving on from our services.
For Jeni, Umbrella became much more than a place to attend activities – it became somewhere she could truly be herself.
Before joining Umbrella, Jeni had often felt misunderstood and struggled to find places where she felt she truly belonged. But from the moment she joined Umbrella’s Friday Group, she found something she had never experienced before: genuine friendship, acceptance and a community where she was free to be herself.
“I could be myself truly and not hide away. I could have my difficulties and still be understood and accepted.”
Through the support of Lindsey, Graham, Nicola and the wider Umbrella team, Jeni built friendships that have lasted well beyond the sessions themselves – including her best friend, Tash, who she still sees regularly today.
At Umbrella, Jeni never felt judged for being tube fed, for her sensory needs or for the ways she coped when situations became overwhelming. Instead, she was met with kindness, patience and understanding.
“People didn’t tell me I was weird or slow or stupid, or ask why I didn’t eat. I was accepted.”
Even during periods when poor health meant Jeni spent long stretches in hospital and specialist units, the Umbrella team continued to support her and never stopped believing in her.
“They never gave up on me, and that meant an awful lot. For once, I had people who believed in me.”
With that encouragement came new opportunities. Jeni discovered she was capable of far more than she had imagined. She learned new skills through gardening, built confidence taking part in activities such as bowling, and gradually became more comfortable coping with loud noises and spending time in groups.
When she later joined the INDE Group, she experienced that same warm welcome.
“The staff went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I felt heard, accepted and allowed to be me. I didn’t get people staring because I needed my bear or if I stimmed or got upset.”
Although a long hospital admission meant Jeni hasn’t been able to attend Umbrella for over a year, she says she has missed it enormously. As she celebrates her 31st birthday and reaches the age of moving on from Umbrella’s services, she reflects on everything she is taking with her: lifelong friendships, new skills, greater confidence and the knowledge that she is accepted exactly as she is.
In her own words, Jeni says:
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me during my time with Umbrella. I’ll take so much away from Umbrella. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Thank you, Jeni, for sharing your story with us. Knowing that Umbrella has been a place where you felt understood, accepted and able to be yourself is exactly why we do what we do. We wish you every happiness for the future and hope you’ll always know you’ll be part of the Umbrella family.