“It helped me get out of my comfort zone. I could never speak to family about my illness. It’s easy to talk in Solas. Making eye contact is so hard for me. When you’re walking, you don’t have to look into someone’s eyes like a counsellor. Being with all strangers makes it easier, everyone blends together. ” – L.

“It was so difficult in the beginning coming up those stairs and getting out of my little nest of comfort. All of a sudden I couldn’t wait to get to Solas and felt excited about where we would walk. It made it easier for me to open up to family and gave me the confidence to stand up for myself. ” – L.

“You’re not alone, you meet people with the same problems and you’re not judged. You become a good listener and learn not to be judgemental.” – N.

“You can speak freely to someone who understands because they’ve been there. As you walk you’re not asking them to solve your problems, it’s the listening and knowing they understand. In terms of interaction, it makes you more fully human in a beautiful place. It’s all natural, you develop friendships with communal respect. It’s meant so much to me. It’s different every time you walk. You don’t realise how far you walk and to be in nature like that with other people is so important. It’s about being alive.” – M.

“The joy of Solas is that there’s such a diverse group of people, people you would never meet otherwise and everyone has a story to tell. It’s a place to be real. Solas allows you to be yourself. It’s non-clinical, you come here to talk. There’s a communal understanding walking in a group more so than in a therapy session.” – M.