Directors: Volunteer Management Committee
Jules
 Jules joined the Management Committee as a Director in September 2007, and is the driving force behind our awareness projects.
Wedge
 The
Founding Director of FirstSigns, and the creative drive behind the web
solutions FirstSigns uses.
Wedge@lifesigns.org.uk
07950705258 (Enquiries only please - this is not a counselling line.)
For further contact details, please see the Contact
page.
Volunteer Supporters
staralfur / Rachel
I'm 27, happily living with my fiance in the middle of England. I started to SI when I was 15, but haven't SI'd for about one a half years now. This has been a culmination of help from many areas - FirstSigns, my fiance, my wonderful GP, and the mental health services (once they got their butts moving). I would never say never again, but I know it is unlikely as I have so many things in place now that it really would be a last resort at the bottom of the list of how to cope.
I enjoy all sorts of creative/crafty things - photography, writing, knitting, crochet, making cards, sewing. I'll give anything a go. I'm also a big gamer and would be lost without my Wii and DS. Our flat is littered with consoles right from a Spectrum up to a Wii. I love animals but renting means we're not allowed to have any pets, so at the moment we're having to make do with lots of walks in the country birdwatching and the like, and a few cuddly toys scattered around the place!
I volunteer my time to FirstSigns because it helped me so much when I needed it. I first found it in 2005 when I was at a particularly low point in my life. Together with the help of the message board community at FirstSigns and from my partner, I picked up the pieces and stuck them back together. It's now been over a year and a half since I've SI'd, and though the depression has taken a bit longer to sort out, it's now finally all coming together.
So I want to give back to what helped me so much. I forget now how long I've been a moderater - 2/3 years? So it might seem like I've returned the favour now, but FirstSigns is so close to my heart and I can't let it go. It is a wonderful organisation that does many great things - both online and out there in the real world with training. Wedge and Jules' passion for the cause never ceases to amaze me.
Moderating never feels like a chore or a job. I enjoy doing it. I get withdrawal symptons if I'm away for a couple of days! I'm not often seen to have a physical presence on the main board, but I am there hovering and beavering away. I love the idea that people may be sitting in their rooms feeling isolated and alone, but with a few mouse clicks they can be among friends and find acceptance and share their problems with others in similar situations.
Lindsay
I'm 25 married and have the cutest cat in the world called Dylan. I am a recovering self harmer who has been in "recovery" (if that's the right word?) for almost 5 years and although I still have difficult times I am able to use distractions to let the urges pass.
I volunteer for firstsigns as it helped me so much through the most difficult time in my life and as I started to get more emotionally stronger I wanted to listen to others going though the same sort of thing as myself.
Lozzy / Lauren
I'm turning 21 next year and am from Australia. I have been self harming since I was 15 years old and before finding this place have felt quite alone with it all. I am currently at university, completing a double bachelor degree of social work and psychology. Over the years I have met many amazing people suffering from similar things to myself and knowing that I am not alone and that many others have gotten better gives me hope that one day I will get better too!
When I first found First Signs last year I felt I had been sent a life boat. Everyone was so kind and friendly and they were always there for you, even when things got tough and you slipped up. FirstSigns has helped me so much and I just really wanted to give back what they had given me. Volunteering my time here does not feel like a job to me... rather it is something that I would offer to do any time.
Sartor resartus / Nel
Married for over 25years, I am a 53 year old mother of two grown up children. I am teacher, one of those dying breed who teach at all levels and all subjects to anyone, infant to adult. I have an Open University BSc Degree, and an Advanced Diploma in Literacy and Dyslexia. My last job was as Special Needs Coordinator at a boarding school (4-18 yrs) where as well as teaching throughout the Curriculum I was responsible for Exam Special Arrangements. I have many hobbies including dog-training, quilting, horse-riding and camping. If I were to describe my life at the moment it would be as a Soap Opera rather than a Disaster Movie, but I have a fantastic support Team about me, both family and NHS, without whom, and FirestSigns, I would be lost.
I didn't SH until comparatively recently, and had never come across it before in anyone of my age. It is frightening and shocking and I felt very alone; I had no idea that SH was so widespread. In despair, I searched for reasons for my behaviour and found FirstSigns. It became a safe place to explore some dark and murky places and helped me to put things back into perspective. I am not a freak; I am not damned; I am not attention seeking; I am a normal human being dealing with Traumas and Crises in the only way I felt I could. It is hugely reassuring to recognise this.
Volunteering to Moderate on FirstSigns aids my own Recovery. By talking with others on the Boards I am reinforcing to myself better ways to deal with the triggers that make me SH, and gaining valuable insight into something that had threatened to take over my life. We share a common problem, but we also share a common goal.
FReedomFRIES
I'm 29 years old and have been self injuring since I was 12. I live with my partner and our daughter, who's 5. I am a teaching assistant at a local primary school which I adore doing. I love books, and reading and have an english literature degree. For leisure I enjoy reading, cycling and spending time with my family and friends.
I found FirstSigns in 2006 when I had hit a particularly "rough" patch in my life. I had never known sites like this existed and I felt, like many, that I was the only who turned to self injury. Out of all the sites I visited (and there are some really harmful ones out there!!) this one stuck out as being supportive, caring, well moderated but most of all real to me. I could relate to a lot of what other people were saying and best of all they could relate to my problems and help me out. It was the first time in my life I had ever started talking about my feelings and what drove me to hurt myself.
It was thanks to FirstSigns and their members that I gained the courage to go to go and see my gp and start the process of recovery. It was really, really hard (it still is!!) but throughout I had the support and encouragement from my friends here on LifeSIGNS. Being able to express feelings that I could never imagine expressing in the real world has really helped me through the hardest times I've had in my life.
I believe that without the help from all the people here and the push needed to go the doctors then I wouldn't have made it to where I am today. I wouldn't be alive to see my daughter grow up or share my life with the man I love. I am now in a place in my life where I can fully appreciate how a website like this actually can change people's lives and help them live again. I know it's not much but I want to give back and help people in the same way I've been helped and now hopefully I can.
Ash
 My name's Ash, I am 23 and I am from Liverpool. I am also a student here. I am studying Childhood & Youth Studies and Sociology. Currently repeating second year due to my issues and I am pleased to say I have had full support from the University regarding this. I have a very supportive boyfriend who I have been with since I was 15. He may not understand what I do or why but he still supports me as best I can and I am grateful for that.
I've been engaging in SI/SH since I was 8 years old but it is only in the last few years I have been making a conscious effort to sort my life out. I have recently started a DBT course and I am hoping in time this will help me to find ways to move away from SI. Dealing with SI/SH can be a very lonely place and when I found FirstSigns a few years ago I was unsure whether it would be of any help but I can honestly say that at times it has been the only place I could turn to.
I have spent most of the last 10 years volunteering with children and young people in various settings. Becoming a volunteer to help manage the Facebook page and group means a great deal to me. Without FirstSigns, it is unlikely I would have taken those first steps to reach out for help.
Carly
I'm 21 years old and have been self-harming since I was 11.
I'm from England and unfortunately still live at home with my parents!
Currently I'm at University in my second year of my (BA) Fine Art degree.
In 2010 I finally took the plunge and went to my Doctor and I am now on medication for depression and anxiety.
I have been told that I have Borderline Personality Disorder by one psychologist, however my Doctor says it’s difficult to diagnose, so if I do have the disorder is anyone’s guess!!
I don’t self-harm as much as I have done in the past, but I do still get very strong urges that I don’t always manage to control.
I first found FirstSigns when I heard about SIAD in 2009. I printed off the posters from the site and put them up around Uni. That’s when I first thought about volunteering.
Even-though I am still trying to recover, I feel that I want to ‘give a little back’ and help others in need of support.
Many thanks to all our supporters around the UK and the world; your help is invaluable and vital.
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