Living the Life
Acorn Acorn House House >> Downham Downham Lodge Lodge >> Your Your Time Time MyStoryUK “everybody has a story to tell”
online: ISSUU MyStoryUK YouTube RecoveryChannelUK
Sid D
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MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Living the Life Simon B interviews Sid D Simon (Tape recording test) Hello Sid, how are you today? Sid Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow . . . . Simon There you go. (both laugh) Should be alright. Hello Sid, I was wondering if you might be able to tell me a bit about Acorn House? And now the fact that you have moved on from Acorn House, a bit about that, how that is? And how you are generally in your recovery? Sid Yah, thanks for that Simon. Um . . . I went into Acorn House, August 2007. My time there was 7 months. I’d say, to be quite honest, between Acorn House Rehab and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), it has saved my life. There is no doubt about that. The best thing that Acorn House offers is time. A lot of other Rehabs and stuff like that, they have a certain time program, like a 12 week program or whatever, you know. And after that certain time then you’re out. A lot of the time the after care is not very good. So with Acorn House, not only do you get time, I mean you could be there 6 months, you could be there a year. It doesn’t really matter. And also the after care is very good.
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MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Um . . . I’ve not been to any other Rehab, this is the only Rehab I’ve done. But listening to other people’s stories, they don’t know any other Rehab that ex-Residents can just turn up and you’re made very welcome, you know. So that’s a good thing, that aftercare. The fact that you can come back after you’ve left. Obviously as long as you’re still in recovery. Simon Can I just say that it seems, in my experience working at Acorn House, that there is a wonderful flow from the Staff. A flow that looks after you all. Checking how you are etc. on a regular basis. Is that good? Sid Yah, I know what you’re saying . . . um Simon I know its part of . . . . Sid Its essential. To be quite honest, the Staff need to know how people are, to be able to help them. You can’t help somebody if you don’t know what the problem is. Do you know what I mean? And the Staff are very accessible, you know. You go into Acorn House and you have a Key Worker who is your Key Worker through your whole stay at Acorn House. That’s not to say that you cannot communicate with other Staff about anything. For instance, if your Key Worker is not there you can actually go to another member of Staff and say, “Nughhhh nughhh,” you know, “I’m feeling like this,” or “ I’ve got this problem” or “I’m worried about that.” Its an ongoing assessment as you say. I think assessment is the best way you can describe it. And when they feel you are ready for the move on, they’ll let you know. 3
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Simon How was it for you when you were told? You probably know within yourself as well, “Its time to move on.” But with the help of the Staff, how did you feel when you knew it was time? The time had come. Sid The time had come and I was ready for it, you know. I didn’t want to hang about too much. I didn’t want to get what’s called ‘gate fever,’ which happens to a lot in places like this, I’m sure not just Acorn House but other places. I was very willing to listen to the experience of Staff members. “Don’t be in a rush to move on. Take your time, its not a race. Things will happen when they happen.” Unfortunately, a lot of people have left early and unfortunately, they have gone back out drinking or drugging or whatever their particular thing is. The fact that Staff members are in recovery as well is a big bonus because they know exactly what you’re going through, cos they’ve gone through it themselves. There’s a big difference between somebody who has learnt a lot of stuff in like, University or whatever and comes and works in a place like Acorn House and somebody who’s actually lived through it. Because, at the end of the day, you don’t want to be listening to people’s opinions, you really want to be listening to people’s experience. You know, that’s what the Staff offer you - experience. So when it was time to move on, you know, I felt so ready. Acorn House had served its purpose for me. I was lucky enough to go into one of the two ‘move on’ houses that the Trust have - Downham Lodge.
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MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Simon That’s what you call the 2nd stage? Or the 3rd stage? Sid That would be called 3rd stage. Simon Right. Sid ‘Cos its still supported. Simon ‘Cos I was talking to somebody else and we weren’t sure if it was 3rd or 2nd stage. Sid Detox is actually the 1st stage. Get yourself detoxed. And then 2nd stage is Acorn House. And 3rd stage is either one of the ‘move on’ houses or other people go somewhere else. The only reason its still in part of the stages is because its supported living. Although as you can imagine, its very low support. ‘Cos by the time you get to Downham Lodge or Bridge House you’re expected to start living on your own, you know. I mean, there’s nobody there to cook for you or clean for you. You’ve got to start thinking what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. Basically, its another step to normal living. I spent 11 months at Downham Lodge and I enjoyed my time there, I really did. But I was very fortunate in the fact that I got a bidding number for local housing very quick. And the fact that I’m ex-forces helped a lot as well ‘cos that’s priority now. A certain level of priority which is a little bit higher than normal sort of priority. 5
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
So I only spent 11 months, as I said, in Downham Lodge which is quite quick. The average is about 2 years. There are people who have been there for like 4-5 years. Yet again, its time. The Manager of both houses said, “Look, by law we only, we are required to house you for so long, after that length of time we would be quite within our rights to say, ‘Bye, bye.’” But they don’t do that ‘cos they’ve got to give people time. It also takes a bit of time to go through the transition. Some people take longer than others. At the end of the day its not a race. Its the individual. Its what suits the individual’s needs. I got a lot out of my time in Downham Lodge. Luckily for me, a lot of stuff I knew anyway. It was just a case of re-learning it, if you know what I mean. I have had quite a number of years living on my own and having my own place to live and so on and so on. So it was getting back into that. Its like riding a bike isn’t it? You never forget how to ride it but if you leave it for a while you’re a little bit rusty at first. But the more you do it, the more competent you become. In February of this year, I was lucky enough to get my flat, which is absolutely amazing. So much good stuff has happened to me. I can’t praise the organisation, all the houses or Acorn House, enough. ‘Cos its done me the world of good. I’m sat here talking to you today. I’m sure that if I hadn’t come into recovery I’d either be going mad, or dead. Simple as that. So I’m a very grateful and happy bunny today. And I’m getting on with my life. I’m living the life I should have been living all my life, Simon. Do you know what I mean? Its taken me a number of years to get there, but I’ve got here. 6
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Simon What sort of things are you doing, keeping busy at. Sid Well, as you know, I’m doing a lot of voluntary work with the Trust and I keep my AA meetings up. I do a bit of social life as well. Not a great deal. But, you know - go visit people, go out for a meal, stuff like that. So its a fairly full life. Got no complaints. Simon That’s great. We’re sitting inside a work shop that you’ve been working on. Sid Workshop come store. Simon Is it your own little project? Sid Well, I had an idea about this space and I thought it would be perfect for the gardeners to use. Basically, it would have entailed clearing up all the rubbish and putting a few benches in where they could have all their plants and everything. But as you know, with this Your Time initiative that they are working on, we started to get a few more jobs and stuff so this space has now been turned into our little store, shed come workshop. So its ideal. It was dead space doing nothing. Simon Yeah, just for the record, I was going to say it was dead space at the back of the Hanbury building which has been utilised now for . . . 7
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Sid Good purpose. Simon Good place to do the interview! Ha ha. Sid And it also means that we’re a bit more independent from the Hanbury, which is nice. Simon Means you don’t have to go in to get tools. Sid As you see around you, we have our own tools now. Its all good stuff at the end of the day. Simon What’s your involvement been with the Hanbury? Sid I started off as a Volunteer on the gardening side doing the hard landscaping. I think they wanted or they would have liked me to do a bit of, how can you say, instruction, tuition. A bit of training for other people which I was reluctant to do. Because I’m very hands on, I’d rather be doing a job than showing somebody else to do the job. It was good for me and its been good for my recovery, the fact that I can interact with people. I would never have interacted before. And the fact that I am kept busy, there’s always something I could be doing around here. So that’s all been good. Simon Well, it all sounds good to me Sid. talk to us about the ‘Your Time’ scheme. 8
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Sid ‘Your Time’ has really come along, a long, long way since its inception. The good thing is, now we have three people on board that are actually being paid a wage. Which is one of the end results of the ‘Your Time’ schemes. To get people working and get them off Benefits and earning a decent wage. The amount of work we have on at the moment and we’ve had over the last year has really been . . . is keeping us going really, really well. We are constantly busy all the time at the moment. One of the good things is a lot of this work is being generated by ‘word of mouth’ which is obviously one of the best adverts you can have. Its all very well saying, “Oh, we can do a good job.” But if somebody else says, “Oh, I recommend them” that’s even better for us. And hopefully over the next year its going to develope even more and we just go from strength to strength. Simon How did you actually get involved in the ‘Your Time’ scheme? Sid I started off when I was in Acorn House. I was asked if I’d be interested in doing some voluntary work as regard to Your Time. We had a big meeting, various people there. From a little acorn, so to speak, we have quite a sturdy young tree growing. So that was my start and I was pretty much involved with it from the start. So I’m really happy with myself to see it grow so much. Simon How do you feel, if you don’t mind me asking, that you’ve benefitted personally from doing the ‘Your Time’ scheme? Sid Its certainly helped with my recovery. 9
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
When I was in Acorn House and also when I went to the 3rd stage house at Downham Lodge it kept me busy. Which is what I needed, you know. So in that respect I’m a very firm believer in a work ethic. Does help with your recovery. Simon What sort of work does the Your Time scheme involve? Sid At the moment we’re getting a lot of painting and decorating jobs. I have been involved in a bit of carpentry work, not a great deal. I’d like to that side develope more, being a ‘shipwright’, a trained carpenter myself you know. But work is work at the end of the day, who knows? Who knows where it might lead. Hopefully, we can get into more sort of general building maintenance if you like. the only things we don’t do at the moment is plumbing and electrics. Quite simply because we’re not trained to. Simon The scheme, does it have opportunities, windows for people to learn a new skill through people that are already partaking, exchanging what they know? Does it work that way? Sid Yes, that was one of the basic tenets of Your Time, to actually pass skills on that one person might have or to learn a skill that somebody might not have. Basically its, “Let’s get people in recovery back into a work situation.” To begin with you know, it may be one or two days a week. Get them used to the fact that they have to be at a certain workplace at a certain time and do so many hours during the day. Make them responsible for turning up and doing their work when they say they are going to do it. 10
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Like you said, “Passing on skills.” Learning new skills as well. Simon Do the people who make work for the Your Time scheme - employers, do they know a bit, not necessarily about individuals, but know about the scheme? Do they know its connected to rehab? Do they ever chat - show an interest in that side of things? Sid I’m sure some, some of them know, but not all of them. This would be down to Brent who is actually the Manager of Your Time. How much he explains to the client is down to him. I don’t think its always necessary to let people know. Simon I agree, I was just interested. ‘Cos sometimes you can go to work and just go to work! And you do your work. But then sometimes your employer does show an interest in what say, the scheme’s about whatever. Whatever it might be, I was just wondering. Sid I think for a lot of people at the end of the day, all they require is that you do the work and you do it to a high standard (laughs). ‘Cos that’s what they are paying their money for. Simon And what work have you got on at the moment? Sid We’ve got an office to do . . . or are in the middle of doing, in the TEA building up the road. The Trust has just got a new Charity Shop so we’re involved in getting that ready for opening. We’ve got 2 bids in, in process, and 1 or 2 small jobs that we need to finish off here and there, like you know. So we’re quite comfortable at the moment, work wise. 11
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Simon Has the work come quite quickly? How long has the scheme been up and running? Sid Well I’ve been out of Acorn House since March 2008. So I’m pretty sure it was . . . . When I got involved with it first off it was maybe the beginning of 2008. Obviously people had been thinking and planning it all beforehand. Simon So 2 years then? Sid 2 to 3 years, maybe longer. From its original idea to what its grown into today. Simon I presume its like a small business? Sid Basically, yes. Simon You put in for your materials. Does the Trust help out in any other way at all? Sid Not really, no. Although we are under the Trust, we do not get any funding from the Trust. We are getting help with paying people through certain schemes with Job Centres. They are allowing so much for 6 months and so on and so forth. I’m really not that clued up about the ins and outs of it as such. The idea is that we become fully self-supporting. Simon And how do you see the future with Your Time and yourself? 12
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Really, ‘cos its obviously helped you in a big way. How do you feel about that? Sid Well, I’d like to see more people get involved. We do have a bit of a . . . at times, a bit of a problem with manpower. But we’ve also got to be very careful with people that aren’t long into recovery, that we put too much on them. And for myself, I’d like to carry on doing what we’re doing at the moment you know. I don’t think that everybody who comes on Your Time will stay on Your Time, but that’s OK. If it helps them to move on to other things then that’s part of the job as far as I’m concerned. Simon Its like bridge, isn’t it? Sid Yes. So onward and upward I hope Simon. Simon And you’re enjoying it? Sid Yes, yes. Simon Are you working today? Sid Yes I am. Doing a bit down in the Charity Shop. I’ve got a little job to do at Satellite Centre and then back to the Charity Shop. So I’m busy at the moment, ha ha. 13
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Simon Are you able and passing your skills to some of the guys? Sid Yah, yah which is nice. Simon Its always nice to be able to help in some form or other. Have you got anything Sid, that you would like to add? Sid I think we’ve covered quite a bit so I think that’s pretty much it. Thanks. Simon Well, thank you Sid for ‘Your Time’. I hope it all continues to go onward and upward for both you and the scheme. Sid Cheers Simon and Thank you.
Published by MyStoryUK words Sid D (Acorn, Downham Lodge, Your Time) Interview by Simon B May 2009 & Jan 2010 design and photos RodB the Spitalfields Crypt Trust www.sct.org.uk and the New Hanbury Project 020 7613 5636 3 Calvert Avenue London E2 7JP paper November 2008 online ISSUU February 2013 RecoveryChannelUK@gmail.com
lots of short films on YouTube RecoveryChannelUK online books at ISSUU MyStoryUK 14
MyStoryUK Sid D “Living The Life”
Feel free to share this heartwarming story with your family and friends. For paper copies please contact Spitalfields Crypt Trust Janice Taylor 020 7613 5677 janice.taylor@sct.org.uk 116 - 118 Shoreditch High Street London E1 6JN.
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MyStoryUK
onB
interviewed by Sim
“everybody has a story to tell”
online: ISSUU MyStoryUK YouTube RecoveryChannelUK
MyStoryUK “everybody has a story to tell”
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