"I turned my life around . . . . ."
Barry – 64
“I was a street drinker and alcoholic for forty years. I have had numerous tenancies
and support but it was always too much. I was scared to live in a flat because I
felt trapped. I always used to drink with my best mate, Steve, and everyone knew we
came as a double-act. We were never sober and always the life and soul of the party.
I used to turn up at wintercomfort soiled and wet and was always given clean clothes
and a meal to keep me going. This is how I chose to live my life and as far as I could
see that was never going to change. Unfortunately, last year, Steve died from liver
failure – he was only forty-five. This made me look at my life differently, I’d lost
my soul-mate and being drunk didn’t seem that funny anymore. With the help of
wintercomfort and other agencies, I was given a second chance. I now live in a
supported hostel and regularly attend sessions at wintercomfort. I may not be the
funniest guy in the world anymore but I’m sober and alive.”
Carly - 23
“I first started coming to wintercomfort when I was eighteen. I slept rough for a
short period, (due to family arguments) and then went on to live in a hostel. I
had previously suffered with bulimia and my self-esteem was as low as it could get.
I started to have counselling sessions at The Centre, that and the support I received
from the Key-workers made me realise that I am worth the effort and I can achieve
things in my life if I really want to. Now I can sometimes go a whole day without
crying, this may sound like nothing but if you had met me five years ago. . . “
Ben – 34
“After many years of an unsettled home life and my parents refusing to deal with
my sexuality, I found myself rough sleeping on the streets of Cambridge. I came
to wintercomfort during the day primarily for somewhere warm and safe to stay. I
found the staff very friendly and helpful and it was easy to trust them. They referred
me to the Street Outreach Team and with them I managed to get a room in one of the
hostels. This gave me the kick-start I needed to get my life back on track. To pass
the time in the day I helped on the coffee bar and in the kitchen as a client
volunteer. As you can imagine, I didn’t have much confidence to start with but this
really helped me. Volunteering gave me a sense of responsibility and I really felt part
of a team which made me feel that I wanted more from my life and so I started to apply
for jobs with the help of the Key-workers."
"It’s now a year later and I have been employed for over nine months.
I have been accepted as just another person which is all I have really wanted.
I have my own flat and no longer visit wintercomfort as I feel that I can go
it alone but I know that if ever I need them they will be there for me.”