“I left home at 13. I’ve looked after myself ever since. My mum and dad had split up and my step-dad was abusive. I was on the street for five years then. It messed my head up. It’s taken me all these years to get where I am.
I thought my life had changed when I met my first partner. I had four kids with her. But then everything went wrong and we split up and I lost my home, I lost my job, I lost everything. After that I was on the streets again and became addicted to heroin.
I ended up six and a half stone and I got very ill. That’s when I realised I couldn’t deal with this anymore. I ended up smashed and I got arrested and sent to jail on purpose so that I could get into detox. I’ve been clean for two years now.”
Over two thirds of our vendors who currently struggle with substance abuse began using over 10 years ago. The majority started using after traumatic experiences, and desperately want to stop. We can help.
Last year, our staff provided vendors with health and wellbeing support 188 times. Please give today and help us to support vendors like Paul to change their lives for good in 2021.