Please note that this story contains mentions of domestic abuse that some may find distressing.
For Kay, alcohol and homelessness went hand in hand. She was in an abusive relationship which often caused her to drink. When she left my partner and kids to try and escape it, Kay ended up homeless, where she would drink 24 hours a day.
Someone from the Jobcentre helped Kay get off the streets by offering her a flat. She wanted a fresh start when she moved in, but sadly ended up in another very violent relationship, which made things difficult.
Kay knew she wanted to get sober, so started engaging with the Forward team at Sittingbourne Community Hub, which is part of the Swale service:
“The staff at Swale were amazing. They helped me deal with the domestic violence issues and kept me safe if I felt at risk.
“The Forward team gave me the chance to start my recovery journey through one-to-one sessions and counselling. They taught me to believe in myself, and they were right by my side the whole way.”
Kay had been diagnosed with PTSD, which meant she was incredibly anxious and scared to talk about things. This meant she didn’t want to take part in the mutual aid groups or 12-step programmes. Instead, the Forward team gave her the chance to start her recovery journey through one-to-one sessions and counselling. They taught Kay to believe in herself, and they were right by her side the whole way.
Now Kay has graduated from her sessions and is in recovery, she has been taking part in the Forward Connect groups.
On her experience with the Forward team in Swale, Kay said:
“I owe so many people at Forward my life. They have given me so much confidence and I am proud of how far I have come. Now I wake up excited, feeling like this is only the beginning of my life. I have so much to look forward to.”
