I first came to Inclusion in 2019 looking for help with my chronic alcoholism, and the service began giving me support. The problem was that I was not ready to stop drinking and therefore never fully engaged with my key worker or the services that were offered.
Even being admitted to hospital for 6 weeks with multiple organ failure, being visited 3 times by the hospital chaplain, multiple blood transfusions and dialysis treatment…. this still wasn’t my rock bottom and my drinking just got heavier!! I eventually came back to Inclusion drug/alcohol services at the beginning of November 2021, suicidal and desperate to get help for my chronic addiction to alcohol.
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They have given me my life back, my wife a caring, loving husband, our children a father they can be proud of, and someone who is now able to contribute to society.
My initial contact was with a key worker Andy, who listened to my story, reassured me and made me feel that someone was listening to me, I wasn’t on my own and that I will get the help I need. My next step was to be given my own personal key worker, Kerry, who met with me to discuss a plan of recovery that would eventually lead me to going into a detox/rehab.
Initially, I was horrified to be told that I would have to wait at least 6 months before going to a treatment centre. I worked with Kerry and stuck to the plan that we had agreed – i.e. attending regular recovery groups at Inclusion, cutting down my drinking, while she worked behind the scenes to get funding for my detox/rehab and find the right treatment centre that would meet my needs.
I was lucky enough to be in a detox/rehab centre for 20 weeks and received the expert help and support that I needed around my addiction.
I had to be ready to, want to, and need to, stop drinking for myself first. Then be honest, willing and open minded to put in the hard work required to get and stay clean.
In 2022 I returned to the Island & carried on attending Inclusion, regularly engaging with groups in order to maintain my sobriety. More than that though, I was doing almost 9-5, five days a week, in any group I could, helping out about the place at other times, supporting the newcomers to the building; advising with the processes they were going to be told about and using my personal experiences as anecdotes.
I started assisting in and cofacilitating peer lead groups as & when I was needed. I also took on the role of a Service User Representative, which incorporated welcoming new attendees, weekly meetings and carrying the voice of the new clients to the management for suggestions of areas that were lacking or improvements that could be made.
I was also lucky enough to represent Inclusion at the Recovery Games 2022 for the first time, then again in 2023. This was an amazing experience; to see so many fellow recovering addicts come together and be able to enjoy life clean. We even came second in the fancy dress competition – not something you would have got me to partake in a few years previous!
During 2023 I attended the Service Users Representative training in Fareham with around 20 others from South Coastal Inclusion hubs, doing the training all at once. This made me more confident working in the groups, and I lead peer ones, especially the Recovery In The Steps (RITS) as a regular facilitator. Also, on these days I was greatly involved with the ‘recovery café’ as a drop in in the morning. This meant I was now on the timetable for 6-9hrs a week as a volunteer, which gave me great purpose and the structure I feel I needed, whilst allowing me to follow my interests outside of Inclusion and keep a safe lifestyle balance.
Later, toward the end of 2023, I suggested and structured the ‘Recovery & Relax’ group – to fill the timetable gap for Mondays at 11-1. This was very well received and, although there was a specific ‘Women’s only’ group off site, many people attend this as there had been no arrangement for men. This is a very positive ‘gratitude and achievement’ based two hours & considered by many the best way to set up your week for positive outcomes.
I reluctantly did the group facilitator training, but with hindsight, this was a great experience. I was more confident to be the lead facilitator in peer lead groups from here on.
I set up bowls with other people that attended the Inclusion service, under Inclusions watchful eyes to co-ordinate. Appropriate room hire has been funded by Inclusion and the team have sourced a trophy & its first tournament has been completed
I have developed new skills of marketing & advertising by designing & printing fliers for all the various peer led groups in order to promote, advertise and raise awareness and get people interested in attending.
The work that Andy and Kerry put in to start me off on my road of recovery was second to none. I’m sure that there were many others that I’m not aware of, that were involved in me being able to get into a detox/rehab treatment centre, who I will never know!! What I do know is that without Kerry, Andy, the whole team at Inclusion IOW and I’m sure many others, I would not be sitting here writing this review!!
They have given me my life back, my wife a caring, loving husband, our children a father they can be proud of, and someone who is now able to contribute to society. I was present for my son and his new wife on their wedding day; not only was I not an embarrassment, I made a speech. I have been able to support my other son at a national weightlifting competition at the NEC Birmingham. I have been able to support family members through life’s ups and downs and rebuilt the trust that I had lost.