J was put in care at the age of 7. He lived in four children’s homes and lived with three foster parents. During this time J was getting into trouble a lot, stealing cars, smoking weed and drinking. The police were always at his foster parents’ house.
J left care at the age of 21 getting his first flat not knowing how to pay bills and buy food or even cook food. J was getting into relationships which where toxic sending him over the edge even more. J worked quite a lot along the way. J started doing party drugs and drinking from Friday till Sunday, then would go back to work on Monday hung over but J would get on with work till the weekend then do drugs and drink again. J would get into relationships which where unhealthy for himself. He had four children over the years to four different women. All these relationships ended because of his drinking and behaviours. J sold drugs in his thirties. Later in his thirties J started taking cocaine and drinking every day while working full time to pay for it.
J has been to prison for short stints and whilst there would decide to turn his life around, however when he did leave prison he would start drinking and taking cocaine again never learning from his mistakes he had made in the past. J has been homeless a couple of times but seemed to get back on his feet. In 2016 J had everything going for him. He had a house two jobs a life but lost it all due to alcohol and substance misuse. J ended up in prison for 8 years and during this time he had a lot of time on his hands so decided to change. J got clean and got qualifications which would give him an advantage when he got out. In 2022 J went to an open prison where he had home leaves every four weeks which Is when he came to Blackburn to visit a rehab called Thomas. In March 2024 J got out of prison and moved to Blackburn and stayed at a probation hostel for eight weeks.
J was still going to Thomas rehab for groups, then in May of the same year he moved to Thomas. J got to do the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous which he enjoyed and did this for three months. J wanted support in finding volunteer opportunities that could help others who had been in the same boat as himself. He was also hoping to educate himself further and eventually gain employment.
How did J engage with Community CVS?
Community CVS works with THOMAS Rehab by promoting volunteering as a positive thing for all to take up. CVS also promotes Volunteer Training which gives people an insight into volunteering. J heard about this and contacted me for further information regarding this. We had our initial meeting where we registered him on Vol Plus and made a few enquiries to the organisations he was keen to volunteer at. J also wanted to attend Volunteer Training to help him move forward.
How did Community CVS help J?
J wanted to look at volunteer roles around recovery. We found a role for him at Phoenix Hub where he excelled. A lot of the people who attended had the same issues as he had whilst growing up e.g. offending history, addiction and homelessness. He loved his role. We had discussed J attending a 4-day Volunteer Training course delivered by CVS at our initial meeting so he could broaden his knowledge of the services available in the Blackburn area, J agreed to this and completed the course. J met a staff member from RedRose Recovery and said there was volunteer roles available which they felt would be beneficial for him.
What impact did this assistance have on J?
J has been volunteering at Phoenix Hub and VOICE for a few months now and is really enjoying it. He is supporting people who have had the same experiences has him, addiction, offending history and homelessness. He understands what they are going through as he has lived experience. J also started volunteering with RedRose Recovery which again he thoroughly enjoys. He had the opportunity of applying for a job. Ten people attended the interview, and J didn’t think he would be successful. J researched the company and attended the interview. The interview was based on points and J was informed that he had scored the most points of people who had been interviewed over the past 2 years. J was successful and now works at RedRose Recovery J said, “I’m humbled by this” J is still clean and sober and enjoying life.
J said that “Volunteering helped him get a job and work within a field that gives him joy by helping others who have been through the same as him”.