Pathways For All People Successes
We are, of course, proud of all of our success stories here at Pathways for For All People. Here are just a few examples:
Darius:
Philip:
Anonymous Pathways Resident
Gary:
When Gary arrived at pathways he was in a state of despair, he felt invisible, broken and ready to give up. He could not see a way out of the life he was living feeling alone and totally powerless.
Gary had struggled for many years with his mental health, depression and anxiety. For years he took his medication and tried his hardest to succeed but was consumed by feelings of emptiness. He felt lost and struggled with severe mood swings which like a light switch would shift in the blink of an eye from a state of hopeless loneliness to anger and frustration.
This had a severe effect on his sleeping pattern, appetite and energy levels which plummeted leading to an ever-increasing sense of hopelessness. As time passed Gary had turned to alcohol to fill the feeling of emptiness as he struggled with growing feelings of deeper and inescapable depression.
He did not feel like he fitted into society and was struggling with feelings of deeper depression and a sense of hopelessness. He was unable to cope with social interactions, unable to function without alcohol, tight-lipped, nervous and anxious around his friends. Gradually he lost social connection with the people he loved and cared about, family and friends. Some were unable to understand his absence at family gatherings, he was no longer the life and soul of the party but a lonely recluse, a shadow of the social family man he once was.
Having lost all-purpose, self-esteem and confidence Gary felt suicidal, one day it all became too much and he turned to prescription pills in an attempt to take his own life and take away the indescribable pain and suffering. Gary woke up in a hospital bed all alone. There were no visitors. His friends and family had lost all contact with him and he wished he would be better off alone. Having cut all ties with his family and friends he was homeless with no place to stay.
Karen, the founder of Pathways For All People, was alerted to Gary’s situation by the council and social services who had concern for his mental and physical condition as he was no longer self-dependent, experiencing psychosis, tremors and suicidal thoughts. As he recovered from the physical bruises and stitches he faced ongoing and severe emotional distress. After several visits from Karen and a number of psychiatrists at his bedside, Gary was told that if he was able to give up drinking and take on a full personal recovery programme he would be offered counselling to help him open up about the traumas of his past, cognitive behavioural therapy to manage his on-going depression, educational support through college programmes and most importantly a roof over his head until he was able to stand on his own two feet.
No person’s journey at Pathways for all people is the same, with the majority of residents struggling with past traumas, a history of neglect, and abuse. All residents are looked after with a bespoke recovery plan to build confidence, skills and value to the community with the end goal of complete independence. Karen worked closely with Gary to focus on his strengths and give himself a belief in his ability. After four weeks of initial therapy, it quickly became obvious that Gary excelled at supporting Karen with day to day tasks around the houses, helping service users to move into their new safe haven at Pathways for all people he was able to use his experience to help others.
Now Gary is of service to all of the service users within the Pathways organisation having assumed the role of Volunteer Housing assistant alongside Karen. On Top of his volunteering duties, Gary has been studying for an NVQ in social care and assistance. Despite the difficulties of Covid19 and feelings of isolation due to his ongoing counselling support and purpose within the organisation, Gary has started a running club which has seen popular uptake amongst residents at Pathways for all people helping to boost mental health, morale and social activity. After weeks of training, Gary has built up from 1K to a 6K run and has ambitions to run 15K for charity! Gary has never felt such a feeling of achievement as a result of the freedom from the support given to him by Karen and Pathways for all people.
Gary now feels understood, valued and driven to achieve his goals of becoming a full-time support worker in the community. He has nearly completed his NVQ in social care and looks to pass his final exams in four weeks time. His main passion and the why behind his ambition is to show others there is a very fine line between anxiety and depression, success and freedom and that anyone can fall into a life of hopelessness but with the right support in place for each individual and the desire to recover others can follow the same path as him and turn their lives around. Gary is now carrying the torch in the community passing on his first-hand experience to help other vulnerable adults to recover as he has.
In September of 2020, Gary has signed up to a 15K charity fundraiser to support other vulnerable and homeless people in the Dorset community who have a desire to get the support he had and stand on their own feet with all proceeds donated to the Pathways For All People charity.
Black male early 50’sArrived at Pathways July 2020, was street homeless due to drug addiction and serious mental health issues and suicide attempt. Split up from his wife and no contact with his young daughter. Moved on March 21, now reunited with his daughter and regular contact with his wife, living addiction free in independent accommodation; and working as a painter and decorator.
White male mid-40’s. Arrived from Rehab July 20 recovering from an alcohol ad diction.Now working online as a consultant in finance. Drives a nice car! And recent girlfriend 🙂 Exploring move on options and looking for a 1 bed flat at present.
White female early 50’s
Drug & Alcohol addiction & mental health issues.
Arrived September 2020 from Rehab.
Now volunteering for Faithworks, supporting street Homelessness.
She has regular contact with her young son, while looking at 2 bed flat options with the. view of moving on with her son.
White male mid-40’s Arrived from Rehab July 20 recovering from an alcohol addiction. Now working online as a consultant in finance. Drives a nice car! And recent girlfriend 🙂 Exploring move on options and looking for a 1 bed flat at present.White male mid-20’s
Arrived July 2020 with various addiction issues. September2020, he started working as a trainee labourer. January 2021 moved on into independent living and continues in his labouring career. Has good contact with his family.White male Late 20’s
Arrived March 2020, was living alone in a studio flat in active addiction from alcohol and drugs, mental health; and often fitting from addiction use.
September 2020 was able to move back to independent living addiction free and an improvement in health. Health condition has led him to change his career, so in the process of looking at options available. In good relationship with parents.White male mid-30’s
Sofa surfing and in active addiction until mid-January 2020 when he came to Pathways. July 2020 he started an apprenticeship with a local lift company.
January 2021 he moved into a 1 bed flat.
He was furloughed shortly after this due to the last COVID lock-down and survived it! He is now back doing his apprenticeship. And has a good relationship with his parents.Drug & Alcohol addiction & mental health issues.Arrived September2020 from Rehab. Now volunteering for Faithworks, supporting street Homelessness. She has regular contact with her young son, while looking at 2 bed flat options with theview of moving on with her son.
White male mid-20’s
Arrived July 2020 with various addiction issues.
September 2020, he started working as a trainee labourer.
January 2021 moved on into independent living and continues in his labouring career. Has good contact with his family.White male Late 20’s
Arrived March 2020, was living alone in a studio flat in active addiction from alcohol and drugs, mental health; and often fitting from addiction use. September 2020 was able to move back to independent living addiction free and an improvement in health. Health condition has led him to change his career, so in the process of looking at options available. In good relationship with parents.White male mid-30’s
Sofa surfing and in active addiction until mid-January 2020 when he came to Pathways. July 2020 he started an apprenticeship with a local lift company. January 2021 he moved into a 1 bed flat. He was furloughed shortly after this due to the last COVID lock-down and survived it! He’s now back doing his apprenticeship. And has a good relationship with his parents.Update, 13th February 2023
Five people have moved on since July 22.
A 50 plus year old guy from Scotland who has now completed four months within Pathways. He has decided to move back home to Scotland, he has remained drug and alcohol free, but still being treated for mouth cancer, which came back for the 3rd time after joining to back in June of this year.
A guy in his mid-20’s completes this week after a painful journey of coming to terms with his gran’s death, while staying addiction free, will move into a two bedroom flat with a friend.
A guy in his late 30’s has moved back to the Luton area, his local area, and is renting a one bedroom and he has good contact with family members.
A guy in his late 20’s has manged to find a one-bedroom flat after being in full time employment for a few months.
A guy in his early 40’s has been engaging in a carpentry course and has just started to seek independent accommodation.
A guy in his early 50’s has landed himself full-time employment, driving, working for a delivery organisation.
A guy in his early 50’s has just passed his HGV Vehicle licence and is looking to start driving full-time in the not too distant further.
A guy in his late 30’s is just starting up a small DIY Business and now has good relationships with both of his teenage daughters.
A guy in his early 40’s is now supporting other people with addiction issues by sponsoring them.
And of course, there are other within our houses just getting on with it.
Pathways still support 2 single parents living within the local community with mental health and addiction issues.
Over the summer months some of the service users have completed a gardening project and managed to decorate various service users bedrooms when people have moved on, to help build self-esteem.
