Wayne Gibson is still healing from the wounds that depression left behind nearly three decades ago.
But in spite of the stigma men face about their mental health – both nowadays and back in the 1990s – Gibson has learned to cope, coming out the other side of it a better person.
It is a message of hope he now instils in the volunteers he leads at PEEEP Trust, who are experiencing long-term unemployment as a result of mental illness or disability.
The People Empowerment and Environmental Enhancement Programme is a safe space for people to gain skills leading to job opportunities that might not have been there otherwise.
“Our jobs give them a bit of a lift in life, makes them feel important, and builds up their confidence and self-esteem,” said Gibson.
“A lot of the guys that come in here are really reserved and not sure where they’re going in life. My job is to make sure they leave here happy every day, feeling more positive about themselves.”
The trust has provided training and work experience for unemployed people since 1993, with a focus on improving the local environment.
Referred from agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development, all volunteers have experienced long-term unemployment.
Many are recovering from drug or alcohol addictions, have physical or social disabilities, or are dealing with mental illnesses. PEEEP offers stability, purpose and belonging, contact with nature, teamwork experience, and staff encouragement through contracted work.
It could be graffiti removal for the city council one day, grounds maintenance at parks, businesses or homes the next, or beach clean-ups and dune management.
Said Gibson: “It’s the simplest of things they can lack that we help them with. Most have never used a computer so we show them how to go on Google – things people would take for granted.”
As yard manager, Gibson loves balancing his time between co-ordinating future jobs from the office and working side-by-side with the volunteers.
After all, he has been in their shoes, starting as a casual volunteer eight years ago mowing lawns at the former Queen Elizabeth II Park while battling his own demons.
Before PEEEP, Gibson was a labourer.
“I enjoy helping people less fortunate than myself. I’ve been in a position in my younger years where I’ve been down that road, where I’ve been very depressed and low,” he said.
“It’s not a good place to be. If I can help somebody to get out of that zone, I feel like my job is done.”
Gibson eventually worked his way up to become the supervisor, before accepting the manager role earlier this year.
The new role was a full-circle moment for the father of three because the supervisor who initially hired him happened to be his son Tristan.
“When I first started here as a casual he was my boss, but only until 4 o’clock – I stipulated that.”
Having a close working and personal relationship did not get in the way of putting the volunteers first.
It was about finding the right time to “take my boss hat off and put my father hat on,” and vice versa.
“It’s great, we’re more like best friends and we work really well together as a team,” Gibson said.
“We don’t bring any issues we have into work, we talk about it after work. We don’t want the volunteers to pick up any negative vibes.”
A growing reputation has meant the number of referrals has climbed, with many more on the waiting list.
Along with the trustees, the team of three-to-four staff work alongside eight volunteers at a time.
Gibson has always been a “people person at heart,” but empowering others to find their voices for the first time made all the challenges he faced worth it.
“They don’t know it, but I get a lot from them as well.”
He recalled with pride a young man who went from being socially withdrawn to securing an apprenticeship on his own, thanks to newfound confidence.
“We carried him under our wing, and over a few months, we lifted his spirits so much you couldn’t keep him quiet,” said Gibson.
“This place helped him so much he doesn’t get on the Xbox anymore now that he has a job.”
Having been encouraged by his own co-workers, friends and family to take on a leadership role for the first time, Gibson could relate.
“My self-esteem was a bit low before I became manager, I didn’t think I would cope.”
The macho mentality expected of men, especially in the past, made it difficult to address the trauma he experienced sooner.
“I was in a very bad situation and I was a broken man. Back then, a man was a man,” he said.
“It’s not really a thing you need to hide anymore.”
Gibson could spend all day tinkering away on one of his muscle cars if he did not have a trust to worry about.
In spite of his brighter outlook on life, there are concerns he simply can’t shake off.
“Funding is drying up – since Covid, applying for funding is less successful these days.”
• To get involved with PEEEP Trust, phone 021 0623 722 or email accounts@peeep.org.nz.
