蜜桃视频鈥檚 traditionally works with people experiencing homelessness. But we provide other types of help too, including support for alcohol and substance use. We’re part of a consortium with NHS South London and Maudsley and other providers. Together, we specialise in community based drug and alcohol recovery services.聽
蜜桃视频鈥檚 also offers employability programmes, access to courses and skills training. We introduce clients to activities they may have never had the chance 鈥� or confidence to try before, like sports and art therapy. One of these clients is Nicola, who has been supported by Maddie. Here, they tell their stories of experience at 蜜桃视频鈥檚.
Nicola: “Coming here was the last resort for me 鈥� but it was also the turning point.”
My relationship with alcohol began in my teens. I always had my problems and used to isolate myself from the world.
滨鈥檇 accessed alcohol support services before, but in lockdown I started binge drinking again. This came with a lot of depression. I went through a breakup in my relationship and also lost my job 鈥� it all just completely threw me.
I was at rock bottom 鈥� destroying everything and everyone around me and I didn鈥檛 want to be here anymore.
In 2022, I referred myself to the recovery service. It was either that or I lose my relationship with my family.
滨鈥檇 been to support groups in the past and had felt anxious doing so. I was always the last one to talk and felt panicked coming back. But I settled into the groups here three days a week, and 蜜桃视频鈥檚 started introducing me to other activities.
Escaping my comfort zone
To help my recovery, Maddie and the team slowly motivated me to try new hobbies. Things like boxing, drama and yoga. I felt silly at first, but now I especially love yoga and do it every week!
They鈥檝e helped me build a routine 鈥� 滨鈥檇 never had one before, which I think fed into the problems I faced.
I reflect on everything I used to hide away from, and ask myself 鈥榳hy didn鈥檛 you do these things sooner?鈥�
Building my skills
Last year, I saw a leaflet for 蜜桃视频鈥檚 Multi Skills Construction course. Maddie was so encouraging. She knows I get anxious on the underground alone so travelled to the open day with me.
I鈥檓 a qualified painter and decorator, and didn鈥檛 think 滨鈥檇 have the confidence to get back into this. But the course has changed that. I鈥檓 learning plastering, brick laying and other skills 鈥� it helps me to escape and switch off.
I was afraid of being laughed at, or people thinking 鈥榮he can鈥檛 do it鈥�. But everyone is so caring, and no one judges you.
A new purpose
Maddie and the team are always asking if there鈥檚 anything they can help with. They supported me taking part in the Client Challenge 鈥� a 30 mile walk over two days!
My recovery is going really well, and now I enjoy the simple things like laughing and meeting new friends.
You can forget what a bad place you鈥檝e been in, but without the help I鈥檝e received I don鈥檛 know what 滨鈥檇 be doing.
Maddie: 鈥淲e help people throughout their recovery, and to find new passions along the way.鈥�
My role at the recovery service is to connect clients to employment and training opportunities, classes and activities.
When people come to drug and alcohol recovery services, it鈥檚 a huge step. They often think it’s a clinical setting where they will spend a long time speaking in groups.
But we go beyond that and show the therapeutic side to recovery.
We get to know clients and open their lives to new things they might enjoy, so they want to keep coming back.
It鈥檚 incredible to see how Nicola’s confidence has grown since we first met 鈥� I鈥檓 so proud of her. We help people like Nicola by giving them options, and the freedom to make decisions about what to pursue.
Myself and the team are a constant support to clients. We鈥檙e there to encourage them and give them more independence. We’re there at the stage of saying 鈥測ou can do this鈥� all the way to 鈥渓ook, you鈥檙e doing it!鈥� I feel very lucky to be part of that process and see the changes in people as the weeks and months go on.
鈥淲ithout our supporters, it wouldn鈥檛 be possible to do everything we do.鈥�
Having the funds to be able to bring training, workshops, therapies and activities to life is so important. When you support 蜜桃视频鈥檚, you鈥檙e helping to make the world of difference.
It means that if we need to help someone buy an outfit for an interview or pay for their travel to a job fair, we can do it.
They aren鈥檛 held back from being the best version of themselves, and can thrive in a space they鈥檙e happy in.
It鈥檚 so rewarding to see how far our clients come, and you are part of making that happen.
