"My Recovery Journey"

I have been a member of the CGL Recovery community for 3 years now. The first time I wasn’t ready, but after a long and destructive meander I found myself back on the flowing river of recovery and on the path to a better and more fulfilling life. As a young male, it was difficult for me to face my demons head on and with the help of others around me, but with the aid of the recovery community, the staff and my family I stood up to my problems and addressed them straight.

    I was in service for 8 months, I attended groups and helped out in the hub. Then it hit me like a brick – this is the career I want to do. This is the start of something special. This is where I can fulfil myself and turn all the negatives I had done in my life into positives. After all the bad things that had happened to me in the past, CGL had given me the resources to transform myself and in turn, help me transform other people’s lives around me.

    I applied for a volunteer position within the organisation. After being out of service for a while and maintaining abstinence, I received a letter inviting me for an interview. I went, was successful, did my induction and training, and I’ve never looked back. Every day I come in I feel empowered, always making me strive to do more and help others whilst also aiding my own recovery.

    I am a Service User Representative, which means I am the conduit between Service Users and the management of the building I work at. They feel happy to approach me and tell me how they feel, any suggestions they may have, or just to have a sit down and a chat over a brew and some toast. We are there to provide any information they need and just to be welcoming and a picture of visual recovery in the reception area

    I am proud to work alongside some of the most powerful and amazing individuals I have ever met in my life, and have created friendships that will – hopefully – last a lifetime. The organisation I work for is one that recognises individuals on the skills they possess and knows how to put those skills to good use.

    I have been working at CGL as a Service User Rep for 4 months, and I hope to remain here as an integral part of the team for a long and fruitful future.