Kath’s story

Once drink gets into your system you start making a fool of yourself. You’ll do anything for a drink. It makes me sick to think that’s the person I once was. I nearly lost contact with my children altogether through alcohol.

What was good was that the people at Growing Lives never judged my addiction. They helped you. I really enjoyed the outdoors projects in particular, like our visits to Shipley Country Park. I’m an outdoors person.

If you were having a bad day you could talk to people about it. I came to see the people at Growing Lives as like a family. They were just there for you when you needed them.

They helped me through some really tough times. When I couldn’t afford a proper meal they used to give me food to help me out until I got paid. As a result, I felt comfortable with them. If I had a problem they would resolve it with me and we’d get it done together.

I’m feeling good now. I know how destructive alcohol can be. But I now do alternative things with my free time. I spend time with my family, making up for the time I should have spent with them before. Now I’m back on track with a job and my own home. And it means a lot because all my family and especially my kids are so proud of me for doing what I’ve done, and how far I’ve come.

If it wasn’t for Derventio I don’t think I’d be where I am today.