To address the challenge of finding the right support services, Tiffany Markwick founded the D&C Directory two years ago to make it easier for people across Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall to access important support.
Tiffany’s experience with mental health services, both personally and professionally, highlighted how difficult it can be to find the right help. The D&C Directory aims to simplify this process by bringing together a wide range of services in one place.
“As someone who has experience of trying to access/accessing mental health services, as well as being a professional whose job it has been to signpost people to services, I know how difficult and overwhelming it can be to find the right support.”
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Originally, Tiffany started with listing autism-friendly services in Plymouth. Over time, this evolved into a comprehensive directory that took several months to complete.
“I decided to keep going as I thought this could be something really useful and interesting to try and do.”
The directory has received positive feedback from individuals and professionals alike, with many praising its usefulness in finding support. Thousands of people across Plymouth have used the directory, and its reach continues to grow as more people hear about it through word of mouth and networking events.
“In the last couple of months I’ve really started to see how widespread its impact has been, as every networking event I’m going to lately, someone has heard of the directory, which has been amazing to hear.”
Promotion for the D&C Directory has largely come through word of mouth and partnerships with local organizations. Key partnerships with the Trauma Informed Plymouth Network and Marbles Lost and Found have been instrumental in expanding the directory’s reach. Tiffany also uses a Facebook page, website, and newsletter to promote the directory, helping it gain more visibility.
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Tiffany’s own challenges with finding and accessing mental health support influenced the way she designed the D&C Directory. Her goal was to create a resource that would make it easier for others to find the help they need, without the frustration she experienced.
“I therefore decided to turn my difficult experiences into something positive and useful, with the aim of preventing as many people as possible to go through the same difficulties and challenges I did when trying to find support.”
The future of the D&C Directory includes plans to make it more accessible and to continue improving the website. Tiffany also hopes to integrate the directory into local GP surgeries, making it more widely available to those who need it.
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