Shaw Trust Works Some Animal Magic

For animal expert Storm Crosbie-Ross the launch of her new business Animal Instincts will mark the day she finally leaves her nightmare past behind.

Just three years ago Storm was too ill and depressed even to set foot outside her home and unable to see a future for herself or her son.

Today, settled with her partner and son she is happy and looking forward to a successful future with her business Animal Instincts, which she launches on April 10th with the help of national employment charity Shaw Trust.

Jobcentre Plus works with Shaw Trust on the Pathways to Work programme, which provides extra help for people on incapacity benefits to find work. This includes support from highly skilled personal advisers including additional work focused interviews, groundbreaking rehabilitation support, a Return to Work Credit of £40 a week, and in-work support.

Storm hit rock bottom when she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which left her feeling chronically tired and suffering permanent severe muscle pains.

"I felt like I'd run a marathon all the time. I became very depressed and withdrawn and just went downhill. I never even left my house for two years except for medical appointments and needed help to do that," said Storm 42.

"When I moved to Norfolk I had to leave my old home, not able to say good bye to anyone as I was escaping domestic violence. I walked away from a great job as the manageress of a show kennels, so my reputation in the showing world was ruined. I even had to give away my prize-winning dog ­ I've always had animals - they are my life.

"I had known something was wrong for months. I was becoming really ill and when I was finally diagnosed the doctors said the Fibromyalgia was trauma ­related, caused by the stress of my situation," she said.

After two years Storm was a shadow of her former self. Thin and ill she was finally persuaded by a social worker to attend the local First Focus community centre to get help and support.
For a year she went once week, joining as a volunteer then signing up for Animal Behaviour courses on line which led her to think about working with animals again.

"I'd worked with animals all my life since I was 13 and first started working with the RSPCA as a volunteer. I knew I wasn't well enough to work full time but I just didn't have the confidence to do anything for myself until I met a Shaw Trust adviser at the First Focus centre.

With the help of Trust adviser Helen Meikle, Storm started to believe she could achieve her dream and began working to make it come true taking further courses in book keeping and Animal Health Care.

"Helen has supported me all the way. The help from Shaw Trust and First Focus have helped me get this business going I would never have had the confidence to go ahead alone," she admitted.

Buoyed up by her reputation among friends and neighbours as the 'pet whisperer' she now has a waiting list of clients ready to support her new business including Shaw Trust adviser Helen.

"I look forward to being Storm's first client, she has a natural ability to help dogs and their owners," said Helen, who is finding her Great Dane cross Taz a handful.

"He likes to bark and scare other dogs off but he only wants to play, I am sure Storm will help us and I'm positive her business will be a great success," she added.

Storm's business will also feature a Pre-Pet ownership scheme to help would-be owners find the right dog and carry out home evaluations and provide on-going support.

Anyone doubting Storm's natural ability only needs look at her with her faithful four-legged friend Logan, the spaniel cross labrador she has trained to be her assisting dog.

" Logan does so much for me ­ from getting the washing out of the machine to picking up and passing me whatever I need, whether its newspapers, the post or the TV remote control," she said.

"My illness hasn't gone away I am still in constant pain but sitting around all day only made me feel worse and I can't wait to get out and start working now. If I'm having a really bad day I can work from home counselling people on the phone.

"I know I have the ability to help people with their animals and thanks to Shaw Trust and First Focus I can't wait to get started."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. For further details, please contact Sharne Halliday on 07967 661129 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk

2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.

3. Shaw Trust has grown into a world-renowned international organisation, which over the years has supported nearly 160,000 disabled and disadvantaged people and helped some 50,000 of them into work.

4. Across the UK more than 1,200 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

 Back to Press Releases