What ex-clients are doing now
When we asked ex-clients if they would like something included on the website to show what they are doing now, the first to reply was Peter Swift. He has included two pictures - shown here - of him rock climbing and had the following to say.
Peter Swift
I was a naughty so-and-so nine years ago. I could not seem to manage my life very well. I was sent to StreetScene by the Priory. They told me that it was a great place to go to and just like the Priory, so off I set down south. The building was nothing like the Priory where I had come from AND they refused to iron my newspaper in the morning!
I soon came to see that the clients - and the people who worked there - were happy and confident and had a glow to them, so I stayed and they taught me to iron my own newspaper. And so began the journey of getting a life beyond my wildest dreams. I was told by a long-standing member of staff that StreetScene is like the mafia. "YOU NEVER LEAVE."
- don't look down Peter!
Paul
I spent 6 months in Francis House, July to December 2000. It's not an overstatement when I say my time spent there changed me, and consequently, my life. I came in with long hair and unshaven, lonely, lost and afraid to live. When I left I was clean, I could take responsibility for myself, I had direction and above all, I had friends! These aren't people who I used with, or who wanted me for money. I didn't use them to get drugs. We became friends unconditionally.
I also discovered a lot about myself. I found I had a flair for art. I could cook. I picked up the guitar and started to learn to play it, something I had dreamt about doing since I can remember.
My time was not all sunshine and flowers, there were some hard times, these were usually about change, which is of paramount importance, if you are anything like I was. I had a lot of fun too - simple things, I learnt to laugh, not at people, not out of nervousness, but out of sheer pleasure.
Francis House is not a cure - but it is a head-start on the road of recovery.
