Transforming Trauma, Charity Team Joins BIG SLEEPOUT to Build Stronger Community Cohesion

Personal transformation is a consistent endeavour that staff of Swindon’s longest serving homeless charity, Threshold Housing Link, attempt to engender in the lives of the service users they support.

Amy Massey shares her poignant and personal story along with her passion for involving others in building stronger community support for the homeless of Swindon.

Amy’s account, in her own words:

“After a childhood, my teenage years and young adult life were filled with trauma and abuse, there was no surprise I would suffer with addiction problems and homelessness. I started experimenting with drugs when I was thirteen and it snowballed from there. Although being a very successful student with promise of a great career after college, and with university in my sights, I had a darker side to my life with the inability to stop taking drugs”.

“At the time I thought it was because it was fun but looking back I know now I was self-medicating for the pain I had been put through from an early age. I quit college and started working and it turned me into what people call a “functioning addict”. I excelled at work and became a store manager then retrained and completed a business admin diploma. All the while taking drugs. It wasn’t until 7 years ago when my older brother died suddenly in a tragic car accident that the functioning part of me was no more”.

“I fell into a life of partying and drug dependency that would ultimately destroy my body and my mental health. It took me a couple of years but with the help of my family I managed to rebuild my life and come off of drugs. My best friend, who I considered my sister, suddenly lost her life and I witnessed her death and couldn’t save her... I couldn’t

even describe the pain this brought to my life. The loss was unbearable, it hit the community hard, but for me the cycle started again. I couldn’t stop using drugs. The pain was too much, not being able to control my emotions or understand why these bad things kept on happening in my life. I had lost so much, I had no self-respect and self-loathed myself to such a high level but all the while knowing I wanted to change”.

“In late 2016 after another failed attempt at coming off of drugs, I moved back to Swindon and lived in a ‘party house’ for around a year. One day there were three loud smashes at my front door and the Police burst through and raided my home; I was relieved. I was 27 at the time and I was so bored with this lifestyle. My health was in a bad way physically and mentally. I was later charged with possession and required by law to engage with certain services. This saved my life. I had a probation officer and I was referred to The Nelson Trust - women’s centre. They provide a great service, offering a holistic approach to helping women become a version of themselves they can live with. With key worker support, and group sessions to understand things like addiction, trauma, emotions and parenting they helped me change my life - they gave me hope”.

“After meeting with my key worker and explaining the chaos and heart break in my life she looked at where we could start to unravel the issues and what I could only describe to be the mess that I called my life. We decided I needed a safe space to start my journey. My key worker at the trust referred me to Threshold Housing Link who interviewed me and accepted me into a women’s only project; a five-bedroom house in Swindon”.

“My bladder was so damaged from drug misuse they allowed me to have the only room in the house with a toilet right outside my door. They brought us cleaning products and food parcels each week. We didn’t have to pay. I had a support worker there who supported me alongside the Nelson Trust to lose the label of someone who was ‘drug dependent’ and they helped me create a better life for myself”.

“I fast forward to the present and I have now lived in my one bedroom flat for just over a year. I have passed my driving test, my health has improved and my bladder isn’t bad anymore. I’m also currently a Peer Mentor at the Nelson Trust and I volunteer at the local health trust, supporting people who are going through the court system, who could be drug or alcohol dependent or have mental health needs that aren’t being met. I would have benefited from this service if it had been on offer when I was pulled up to court. My life has now completely changed, and I couldn’t have done it without that starting base and the specialist care that Threshold gave me, that chance to change”.

“When I heard about Threshold’s BIG SWINDON SleepOut I instantly wanted to show my support. I spoke to my manager at the Nelson Trust and asked if I could get a group of ladies from the centre to show our support and sleep out together to raise community awareness that I feel Swindon very much needs. We have pulled together a team of ten, that are all excited to attend and raise awareness and hopefully some money for this great charity”.

“My family used to worry about me so much that one of them told me that they used to worry that one day the phone would ring and give them the news that my life had ended due to my drug use and risky behaviour. I cannot stress enough the invaluable support and life progression that Threshold give to people who need somewhere to live. So many of us are only one pay cheque or one traumatic event away from being homeless or could cause them to slip into depression and engage with risky behaviour which can ultimately result in a life like mine used to be”.

One of the ladies joining Amy said: “I want to do the Sleep Out as I’ve been battling alcohol addiction for two years and now I realise what a struggle it is to lose friends, family and your house to this poison! No one on earth wants to end up homeless so we need to help them get back on track. We are only human. I've been on the brink of being made homeless due to my addiction and the people around me not understanding my illness. The staff and friends I've made at Nelson's Trust are so important to me. I'm not judged, and I finally feel hope for my recovery. Threshold as a charity is so important because they provide the necessary critical support and chance for people to change”.

Amy said: “My strongest wish and hope is that this event will build stronger community bonds and will get Swindon talking about homelessness and how places like Threshold can really change someone’s life”.

Michael Keenan, Threshold’s Chief Development Officer said: “Please consider registering for Threshold’s BIG SWINDON SLEEPOUT Fri 6th Dec, from 8PM until 07:30AM the next morning. A large group of Swindonians from local businesses, social groups, clubs, families, and individuals within our great community will be joining us at the Supermarine Sports Club, to spend a night under the stars, in solidarity with those that have no home. This event not only raises critical funds to help us carry out our mission, but it’s also a chance to meet other likeminded individuals dedicated to positive social action. If you want to take part and join this extraordinary community event please visit our website and register to get your ‘Sleeper Pack’ with all the info you will need, and please tell your friends.

Further information at: https://www.thl.org.uk/events/the-big-sleepout-2019/