Paul’s story | Dave's story | Allison's story | Bartley's story
My dad left when I was three, but my early life felt as normal as it could have been. However when I was ten, I started to go downhill.
I had a bad stutter and that was a challenge for me as I felt left out in most things. It stopped me making friendships and getting jobs, and it messed up my confidence in so many ways, but music saved me and taught me how to manage my speech.
Unfortunately, I started hanging around with the wrong people and getting in trouble - I stopped going to school and by the time I was 15 I was addicted to pills, alcohol and weed. I became a dad and tried my best to stop taking for him, but kept messing up time after time. I got addicted to coke and was bad for six to seven years.
During this time, I lost everything - family and friends. I tried crack, but didn't like it thank god! I spent a lot of time running away from everything and everyone, being deceitful and just outright mad, and did what I could to feed my habits.
Then one day I woke up after a lifetime of destruction and said to myself, I need to fix things! I suffered with my mental health, anxiety and bad depression but somehow got myself on top of things - then I fell off the rails again and was homeless. I got things back to a steady start but I had nowhere to go, so I searched for a solution and found Signposts.
"I did all I could to become who I am today. With the help of the staff in James Court, I started to help everyone cook, clean and talk to people while juggling my own problems and getting clean - it was like a gift from somewhere."
I got myself back on track and whilst living in supported accommodation I experienced some crazy stuff, I saw a lot of people in worse settings than me. I knew from watching the staff (who helped me be the person I am today) that I could change and do what they do, and I knew deep down inside of me this was what I was meant for.
I did all I could to become who I am today. With the help of the staff in James Court, I started to help everyone cook, clean and talk to people while juggling my own problems and getting clean - it was like a gift from somewhere.
I applied for a job as a bank worker at Signposts and got it, then the same day got a council place. It was like this was what I needed to go through to access my inner person and I have never looked back. Now I work for Signposts as a waking nights concierge.
I'm proud of being a part of something great. It's been ten months now, and I have never been so happy in what I do. I will always remember where I was and how I could always go back there, so I make it a mission to help people. If you do good, good comes back tenfold and I live by this every day.
Be a part of someone’s journey to a brighter future
We have been at the forefront of new developments for over 30 years, and we are extremely proud to have incorporated a number of innovative approaches to support provision. Times have changed and jargon has changed, but the need to find hope and dignity is still the overriding aspiration for those who come to Signposts.
The wonderful group of people we support possess an array of skills and talents, which sometimes lay dormant, but can be used to benefit both the individual and our local community. Our aim is to provide a culture of using and sharing these skills, learning new skills, and working together to create a great community. Your generous donation will be used to fund our work.
If you are interested in donating on a regular basis or want to fundraise for us, we would be delighted to hear from you. For more information please contact info@signpostsso.org.
