Edges Magazine Issue 43 - Our Former Clients

EDGES MAGAZINE Issue 43

January 2006

Our Former Clients - Look At Them Now

Andy a Peer Mentor

Andy has maintained his tenancy successfully since November 2004. He helps out in the Drop-in Centre; he is always available to help any time even giving a bed for the night and feeding anyone who has nowhere to go. This is peer mentoring in the community.

Karl is enjoying life with his partner and young son and is in full-time employment. He went through the T.H.O.M.A.S. Support Programme in 2004.

Steven completed the rehab last year and now for the first time is living independently. He became part of the Drama Workshop and has now been in employment for 10months. He is enjoying his life and has a young son.

Robbie came from prison to T.H.O.M.A.S. completed his rehab and is settled in a flat in Blackburn. He has remained clean and is a good peer mentor for others. He is studying at Blackburn College and does voluntary work alongside the police in educating young people about the dangers of drugs.

Paul came to us homeless and vulnerable. His life had been mostly prison. We found him a bedsit and gave him intensive support. Now he has a life, he is drug and crime-free. He has totally changed and states emphatically that people can change. He has discovered new hobbies, fishing being one of them and is good at badminton.

Jason, after being ‘booted out’ from the T.H.O.M.A.S. rehab was determined not to let this be a failure. He was supported by T.H.O.M.A.S. Floating Support and was determined to succeed. This he has done and is back with his family and is now a respectable citizen and has obtained employment.

Debbie came straight from prison, she was homeless and all her belongings were in a black bag. She came to a strange town knowing no one; found her way to our Floating Support Unit and vowed twelve months ago to build a new life. .This she has done and is now in settled in her property with her partner.

Ruth was always sure that she could beat her addiction. We gave her a final chance and she took it. It seemed like a miracle. Today she is a mum; she pays her bills, shops and has quality time with her family. She is doing a graduate diploma in deaf studies at university and doing a volunteer training course at a women’s centre.

Helen came to us in February; a stranger from Yorkshire knowing no-one She has turned her life around and is now expecting her second child and is hoping to be re-united with her daughter whom she lost during her active addiction. She is now beginning to have a normal family life with her partner.