“Trusting God has really, really changed my life.”
Addiction started at the same time I got involved in crime, I started smoking cannabis at the age of 13 and from there it all escalated. The drug taking got worse, so did the crime and I was in prison by the time I was 14. Since then I have not spent much time in the community, I have mostly been in prison.
As an adult, my partner passed away while I was in prison. Before that I had thought that I could get clean on my own, after that I realised I needed help.
Time inside really does affect you, and even though I wanted to give detoxing at Walk a proper go, I still found myself bringing my prison mindset in there with me. I was rebellious and coming against everything, after a couple of weeks Simon sat me down and spoke to me about what I was doing.
From there it all changed, I switched my mindset up and started working with what was going on at Walk, not against it.
That change, and my relationship with Christ, has made the difference for me. I was brought up in a church setting but I never connected with it when I was young because I thought I knew better. Growing older has made me realise how important it is, and trusting God has really, really changed my life.
Trust is a big thing for guys here, it’s a big thing for everyone. I
was brought up in a home of violence and addiction, that was
all I knew. I knew nothing about trusting anyone and how to even trust myself. Because of this I destroyed so many relationships and made parts of my life so much harder than they had to be.
I can see that clearly now, and at Walk I have been given tools
to help me deal with life and live it well. I facilitate a group at
Walk where we talk and learn about trust. We are in a safe
environment here so we can actually start to build trust in God, ourselves and each other.
I love learning, since being here I have studied at a college and
now I am working with Keele University helping them with
research about prison and repeat offending. Last week I was at a
conference with prison governors, doctors and professors. That is where my life is going now.
Right now it’s about getting a vision for the rest of my life. I humbly believe I have a bright future, I am really proud of who I am becoming and where I am going.
Stories of hope and of lives changed
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