My name is Sarah*, and the way my story started, I wouldn’t have ever thought that this is where life would take me. I grew up in a nice family, and had a good childhood. But that didn’t stop me making some bad decisions, which got me into drugs when I was fifteen. I still worked hard, though, and secured a business admin qualification and a permanent job by the time I was 18.

However, my boyfriend at the time was selling drugs, and since they were always around my own drug habit worsened. We bought a house together, though, and had two kids. But he continued to sell and got me into cocaine and heroin.

Just before our second child was born, he was arrested and sent to prison. With two kids to manage on my own, I kept relying on drugs to cope, and eventually social services took my kids into custody.

My family stepped in to help; my sister took my kids in and I moved in with my parents. But I couldn’t kick my drug habits however hard I tried, and I knew I was becoming a burden on my family, so eventually I left and officially became homeless.

At this point, I didn’t think I’d ever get my life sorted. I thought that was it for me, that I’d made too many mistakes that I couldn’t fix.

But then I found Ferry Project. I spent some time in their emergency accommodation, and was given a key worker who I met with often. They were really kind and understanding, and together, we worked out what had gone wrong in my life and what we could do to try and fix those problems.

Step one was referring me to the right part of the NHS so I could get proper help for my addiction. Ferry also found me a place in their hostel, so I could have a stable place to get better from. I started doing work placements and educational courses so I could refresh my qualifications, and picked up new habits like swimming once a week to improve my physical health. I also started speaking to my family and seeing my kids again. It was so much easier to talk to them once I could tell them I was making progress and working hard to get better.

Ferry Project continued to help me when I moved out of the hostel and into supported accommodation, which allowed me to live independently again.

Beyond practicalities, though, moving forward and taking new steps helped me to feel more positive about things. Now, I had goals that I was working towards. I started bidding on Home link properties, with the aim of securing my own home where I could find a job and keep my family relationships going. I couldn’t have imagined being able to take those next steps before I met the Ferry Project staff. They saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in a long time. They refused to give up on me. They gave me a future.

Now, having completed a residential rehab course, life is going really well. I’ve also had a lot of time to reflect on my life, and how I came to be where I am now. I faced some challenges, but once Ferry Project got involved, I was able to overcome them. Without the help of their amazing staff, I would never have been able to get things back on track. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me without them, but I’m so grateful I don’t ever have to find out.

*Name changed for anonymity