Looking for P3 Housing Association?
Go to P3 Housing
Looking for P3 Housing Association?
Go to P3 HousingFollowing the lives of people we work alongside; we listened to the stories of people who found P3 and what support looked like for them.
After a series of close family bereavements, Lisa’s mental health fell apart. Falling into depression, she walked out of a well-paid job and turned to secretly drinking. Her partner at the time resented the financial pressure, leading to a serious breakdown in their relationship. So, she left, leaving with only the clothes she was wearing.
Temporarily staying with her sister, she was forced out due to her excessive drinking. Leaving once again with very little – just enough money for one night at a bed and breakfast, Lisa* turned to a night shelter for help. She recalls: ‘I didn’t think I could sink much lower; I had lost everything. If things had got any worse, I truly believe I would have taken my own life. I felt so ashamed.’
Though she found it frightening in the hostel, Lisa said that it was a turning point in her life recovery. The non-judgemental and nurturing nature of the staff is ‘just what you need when you’re feeling so low.’ With her support worker’s help, Lisa slowly rebuilt her self-worth.
Now she looks to a future where she has her self-confidence back, seeking part-time work without anxiety fuelled by alcohol. She puts all her spare energy into her home, taking the time to make it beautiful.
Her parting words: ‘the support I’ve had has been fantastic. I feel I’ve been given a second chance.’
Adam* paces up and down as he introduces himself to everyone in the room, apologising for his continual movements – a symptom of his ADHD, when in an unfamiliar setting.
He sits down for a coffee and his nervousness begins to fade. He opens up about his current life – first and foremost, a father, but also a man in his thirties who’s approaching the end of his probation order for theft.
Adam discloses that he had been a heroin user for 20 years, since the age of 13. His crime was just a way to fund his lifestyle, something which he never received support with until coming to P3. He seems sad when he says ‘I’ve spent years in a system where no one has time to see you as an individual. P3 looked at me beyond the tick box, they were a miracle!’
Adam recalls his first criminal conviction in 1998, since then he had been in and out of prison. He is keen to add ‘I wasn’t a bad criminal, I just needed help!’ This help materialised in guidance by his link worker, supporting Adam with his finances and putting him in touch with a GP.
This led to his ADHD diagnosis, where he has been able to identify the triggers for his behaviour, therefore staying on track in improving his lifestyle – something he says, ‘has massively reduced the likelihood of reoffending.’
Recently released from prison, Michelle* is on license in the community on a 7am-7pm curfew, living in a hostel managed by the probation service. As she reflects on her journey, she talks about the challenges she’s working on: ‘my addiction is a learnt behaviour. All my family drank without boundaries, growing up it was just normal. But then I began to use drugs – nothing too serious at first but looking back now I never stood a chance.’
Michelle’s Link Worker, Sam, has supported her on her journey to sobriety, identifying her triggers and gradually breaking bad habits. She says her biggest achievement since coming to P3, has been the motivation and structure that recovery has brought to her life. Moving forward, she is applying for jobs to eventually fund her own business.
After losing his parents, breaking up with his partner, and losing access to his kids, Anton* left his home after having a mental breakdown and a series of physical health problems. The area filled with drug misuse, antisocial behaviour and criminal activity largely contributed to this decline in mental health.
Turning to the Mental Health Act for support, Anton was under admission – so unwell he could barely make decisions for himself or comply with the rules at the time. Following a review with a psychiatrist, he was sectioned.
Starting off in an acute mental health unit in Wolverhampton for 10 weeks, Anton found himself discharged and with nowhere to go. That’s when he found P3 – starting in Stage 1 support, he had somebody take care of his medication and basic skills while helping Anton recover. He then moved to Stage 2, where he shared a three-bed with two other people.
Now, Anton is at Stage 3 in a supported flat of his own, managing and enjoying the little things. With P3 as his landlord, Anton says ‘staff are always there to help’ taking the anxiety away from renting with somebody new. He is still in regular contact with his support worker, who accompanies him to appointments and mental health reviews.
Looking to the future, Anton is focusing on extending his tenancy as he is both pleased with the support and his home. He says that if he falls back into struggles, he knows he has a support network around him – his advice for people in the same boat: ‘you have to communicate and engage. Help is there.’
If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, click on the button below to find your nearest P3 Charity service.
*Names changed and stock images used for anonymity
