"They are enabling me to grow"

I am an I.P.P prisoner that has served a decade over my 2 1/2 year tariff. I had lost all hope of ever being released and I felt as though it was pointless recharging my batteries and that I would be better off taking them out.

I was at a very low point in my life and I was feeling trapped in a system that is unjust and barbaric to say the least, it felt like there was no means to an end. I found comfort and escapism in psycho-active substances, which later lead to me developing drug induced psychosis, "yes" it was self inflicted. I remember being in seclusion, feeling and thinking I'm never going to make it out of this room alive. I never thought that I would get back to my former self. But with the help, support, perseverance and dedication of the majority of the staff here, them feelings and thoughts have been turned on their head. I have managed to get back to my former self and progress in a different directorate.

I have achieved so much more in the last 3 years, than I ever did between the 9 yrs of prison and personality disorder services. But being given the opportunity to work with the staff and MDT on Foxton ward has enabled me to grow as a patient, but also as an individual and human being.

They are enabling me to grow in every area possible, turning weaknesses into strengths and strengths into protective factors. By way of the hospital granting me £24.96 per week to cook my Lunch and tea, 6 days out of the 7 as part of self catering, which entails menu planning, budgeting and doing the shopping for yourself as un-escorted leave, which increases your confidence and ability to be independent when eventually released back into society. An important pillar of the structure to your road to recovery. That is just one aspect of the support and encouragement I have received from the clinical team as a whole.