The stories of five people who have courageously stepped out of an institutionalised life and set up home in the community has been published.

Tony Taylor, a former warden at Sherborne House, Basingstoke, collated the tales for Insistent Voices: Stories on Claiming Identity.

The book began more than 10 years ago when William, one of those with learning difficulties, began a journey of self-exploration.

Tony had been with him on daytrips to the places of his childhood: the workhouse, the orphanage and so forth. This rekindled an interest in his life and led to a book which now forms one chapter of Insistent Voices.

Over the next few years, Tony worked with others at Sherborne House to learn about their lives.

In the preface, Tony writes: "The telling of each story seemed to be precipitated by an event - why now? - in the lives of the individuals. They needed to have 'something to show' for their lives."

The stories not only record the lives of the former residents but give a voice to people who are too frequently ignored by the rest of society.

Here are real stories of courage against adversity which reveal rich personalities who have much to offer.

One of those featured is Jill Schroder, who now lives at Abbotts Barton. She was born in 1952 to an unmarried woman in Derbyshire and placed in an orphanage in York. At the age of two, she was adopted by Bob and Peggy, who eventually settled in Hampshire.

She initially attended Ashford Hill Primary School, near Thatcham, but she was identified as needing "educational treatment" and this meant being sent to Fairfields Open Air Residential School in Broadstairs.

Jill remembers her time there with affection. After Fairfields, there followed attempts to place her with other institutions before finding a permanent home at Sherborne House, a hostel for the mentally-handicapped, in 1976.

In 1980, her happy life at Sherborne was disrupted once more when Jill was asked to join four others in a new home in the community.

In fact, it was Jill's own skills as a cook and her ability to manage finances that forced the issue.

It was felt that, with her skills, there was a greater chance of the five of them surviving the challenge of "life outside".

The exercise proved a success and Jill spent many happy years with her friends at the house in Wallis Road, Basingstoke.

She was also able to regularly visit her father in Winchester and renewed her relationship with him.

Eventually, Jill was to move into her own flat, her break from institutions complete.

"I found it difficult," she said. "But I had a lot of support from friends. My neighbours are lovely."

She now spends time listening to music and taking her dog for walks - and she is still described by friends as "a Cordon Bleu cook in her own right". Gordon Ramsay, watch out!

Insistent Voices is available from Oxfam, Parchment Street, Winchester.

Alan Cleaver