Ben
I first started visiting reach out in 1998 when I was 17, my drug use was more recreational then, but it was really great to have some where to go and talk and have alternative therapies (reflexology and shiatsu massage). And be creative, as I got older my drug use escalated. And I was finding I felt like I was losing everything, reach out was still there and continued to support me as and when I needed. I found the residential most effective for me as they took me away from the town and the people that wasn’t helping my situation. It felt amazing to be out in the open, talk openly and confront my issues. When I came back from the first residential within 2 weeks I gathered up the confidence to get myself an apprenticeship in hairdressing. I held on to the apprenticeship for a year and a half. I began to realize I wasn’t enjoying the placement as much as I should so I got a transfer to another salon and stayed with them for a year. Unfortunately I fell back into drugs, reach out was still there to support me and is still continuing to help me to see what my options are. Reach out has enabled me to make friends, grow confidence and help me realise that people trust me, and I am useful to the community and I am a person who can achieve more