James' Story

After 2 and a half years living with Hope and Vision, James got married and moved into a new home. He is very happy but that wasn’t always the case. 

I started taking drugs when I was 17 or 18 and I came into rehab when I was 24 years old. Since then I have been able to benefit from the long-term accommodation offered by Hope and Vision Communities. It’s nice to be somewhere people accept you and know what you’ve been through.

Before going to rehab (pictured) it wasn’t the best of times to be living. Some really bad things had happened to me as a child and I'd been heavily bullied. After college, I'd started drug-taking, which got worse and a colleague at work offered for me to sell drugs. I said yes, thinking I could make money, but ended up doing all the drugs instead of selling them. Bags and bags of drugs. 

I wrecked the family home by having a house party, sold my dad’s watch and then I was kicked out, soon living on the streets. There was a half-way house and someone’s room to live in after that, but because of the state of living there I thought ‘I actually prefer being homeless to this’. I kept using drink and drugs, then very soon after my mum sadly passed away, I was offered a rehab place.

When I got to the rehab my dad asked if I’d succeed and was told “no I don’t think he will make it.” I wanted to leave at times because it was just too much, but I stuck to it and completed the programme.

I was offered move-on accommodation after rehab, but this was time-limited. Then Hope and Vision took over managing that property and told us we could stay for as long as we wanted. I was like, “YES! So good!” Hope and Vision have been great. We had a proper re-brand of the house; new cupboards, sofas, TV and paint. I was already attending 12-step meetings, church and volunteering. I joined Hope and Vision fundraising events like a skydive (pictured). With helpful Key working and with the space and time I was given, I progressed in recovery.

I have been able to get a job, get a car, live my life and start new relationships. The small things mean so much. Sleeping in a bed, waking up with the heating on in winter, warm water in the shower and some sort of drinking water; I could go on about the nitty gritty because it means so much to me after not having those things in the past. I now have an amazing support network, became a born-again Christian, got baptised and got married.

James' Key worker reflected back too, "James has faced significant personal challenges whilst in recovery and has persevered where others may have fallen. He has managed to build a life outside of addiction, in recovery". 

We wish James and Stephanie all the very best for the future!