For most people, graveyards are associated with misery and death. But for me, it also provided a place that - until recently - I spent my life in, drinking and sleeping rough in a cemetery not far from where I grew up. It’s only looking back on it now that the eerie nature of all this feels like something I can fully come to terms with.
My drinking had always been a problem. I couldn’t hold down jobs and eventually I lost my place to stay. Even hospital admissions didn’t convince me I needed to change until I hit rock bottom. I went looking for help and eventually found myself in a treatment centre for recovering alcoholics. I’ve now been free from alcohol for nearly a year! It’s sometimes hard to see changes in yourself, but friends and family say they’ve never seen me looking so well - they tell me I’m far more open and self-confident than I’ve ever been before.
Towards the end of my time in rehab I began asking myself: what do I do next? When I met Beam, I’d thought about being a locksmith but after some research I realised it wasn’t for me. We looked at some of my strengths and abilities and landed on the idea of working in IT. I’ve always loved helping people fix their gadgets but never thought I had the skills to work professionally in the field. But now I’ve found a great course that can guarantee me a full-time job with a contract. With your help and the right support, I’m confident that in no time at all I’ll be doing a job for the future in an area I love.