Key Staff

Experience

On a day to day basis I can end up doing almost anything, from attending meetings to writing reports, to painting, to cooking, to investigating a new piece of legislation and designing the policy and procedure we need to meet it.

In the past I have been responsible for the opening of all the units StreetScene runs, which includes: finding the building, organising the funding, dealing with town planning, registering the units with the Commission for Social Care Inspection, fire regulations, designing layouts, choosing colours and finding the right furniture, fixtures and fittings and I hope to do this again. I am also responsible for writing the majority of our policies and procedures in accordance with legislation and Quads guidelines, working with Tim on Budgets and looking at possible future plans for the charity.

Personal Statement

My job is very varied and can be extremely challenging but I do enjoy what I do and it's a far cry from my own addiction, which ended in a squat in Stockwell in 1988 with the birth of my daughter.

Recovery for me has been a learning experience, which basically means that it hasn't been a picnic, but compared to my using I have no complaints. This is why I am passionate about recovery from addiction, I know from my own experience and that of so many other people that it can be so much better without the drugs and alcohol. Life itself can still be tough and painful at times, but it is so much easier without the need to constantly find money for feeding the addiction and the permanent threat of feeling very ill every few hours, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. When I cleaned up I had no idea of how much more I could get out of life and I do believe that if I can do it anyone can. At the end I'd just plain had enough, and was willing to try a different way.

Today, outside of work, I have a really good life. My Daughter is great and I love her to bits (especially when she's asleep!). I also have my Mum in my life, a wonderful and lively lady, who I nearly lost through my addiction.

I have a home, which I have designed and decorated to my taste, which is fairly wacky! I have six snakes as pets, only small snakes and they live in tanks. I paint, I'm not good at it but I do find it relaxing. I have a small walled garden, which I really enjoy. I love travelling, last year I went to Cairo twice, as I have friends there, and fell in love with the place, I now want to learn Arabic before I go back, apparently it's difficult, but I do like a challenge. I don't know where we will go on holiday this year, half the fun is in choosing. Now I don't use, I can save money and go on holiday and there are so many places to go and see.

As to StreetScene itself, it was my father and I, with the help of Godfrey Taylor and Adrian Whitmore, who started it off. It came from the idea that I wanted to help others get clean as I had been helped and my father saying that 'if you want to do something do it properly'. He and my Mum had suffered as the parents of an addict throughout my addiction and through his own experiences was as passionate as me about the benefits of recovery. He was a serious driving force behind the charity from that time until he died in April 2005, and our most recently opened building is named 'Cornerways' in his memory. Although he is gone now, all the key staff knew him and he trained us well.

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Experience

I have been working in the field for over fifteen years. After initially starting a basic NVQ in Care, I found I was good at working with people. I was fortunate at the time to be offered a Voluntary placement at The Quinton House Project by Lorraine Parry. This led to me being qualified and employed as a Counsellor. I stayed for two years before successfully applying for a project Manager's role with the then Community Drug Team running the drop in service/ needle exchange scheme. I really enjoyed working in harm minimisation and stayed there for three years till I joined StreetScene as a Manager/ Counsellor ten years ago. During this time I have been very fortunate to be able to work and learn from some of (in my opinion) the most skilled/ qualified and innovative workers in the field; Lorraine Parry, Tessa Corner and my late friend and colleague Terry O'Dwyer as well as Tim Howson-Green and a board of Trustees whose wisdom, commitment and support has been invaluable in my own personal development. I have on many occasions been privileged to receive so much positive feedback from Service users, Care Co-ordinators and Commissioners about the quality of care provided by StreetScene. This is a direct result of having a very caring, genuine, dynamic, and skilled team who are passionate about the work they do.

Personal Statement

Since relocating from London to Bournemouth my life has been really good. I have got a good relationship with my family whom I had distanced myself from during my ten years in London. I am married to Michelle and we have two children, Maisie and Alfie. I also have a son Christopher who is twenty-one years old and lives locally. I have a lot of love in my life from my family and along with some really great friends who give me all the support and care I need.

The other big love of my life is football where my passion and commitment make up for my lack of skill and the fact that I am left footed and the manager of the team, ensures I get picked every week! (Please see link to Boscombe Celtic). I have a lot of other interests, the main ones being cinema. Music, spending time in the forest, the beach and skinny dipping in the local rivers when I get the chance, much to the annoyance of the local angling club. I'd love to dive more, ski more, and see more of our planet. It is my intention to do all of the above! "Spirit is free"!

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Experience

I am in my tenth year working for StreetScene. It has been an amazing experience for me both professionally and personally. I had my first experience with StreetScene when I was chemically dependent and had been impressed by their warmth, understanding and commitment to helping people who suffer from chemical dependency and not just their own service users. Another thing I liked was their philosophy and commitment to keeping service users involved in the charity after treatment had finished. I originally started working as a volunteer and have since trained and qualified as a counsellor, team leader and registered manager to my current role of senior manager. I along with all members of StreetScene take very seriously the responsibility of meeting our service users needs. Working creatively, skilfully and competently to deliver a high standard of care and to treatment. During my time working with StreetScene I have had the opportunity to witness our programme work by helping service users and family members begin the process of healing and recovery. This enables service users to regain control of their lives and become positive members of their family and their local communities. One of the best parts of my job is when I am out and about town or the beach and bump into ex-service users going about their every day lives happy with their family and friends. This is the stuff that warms my heart and keeps me working in the field of addiction!

Personal Statement

I live with my partner and daughter in sunny Bournemouth! I have a wonderful family and really special friends. Some of the things I really enjoy are running along the beach before work, socialising with my friends, shopping and cooking nice food. Spending quality time with the people I care about is very important to me, whether it is chilling out at home or out and about locally. Today I have some very special people in my life: family, friends and colleagues and would like to say a big thank you to each and every one of you for all the love, care and guidance you have given me.