Hear from our volunteers

Craig

My use of drugs started from a very early age – when I was 9 years old, I tried cannabis for the first time. From there, I progressed with age and my experiences of substances. I progressed trying different drugs; from ecstasy to amphetamines to cocaine and mushrooms. By the time I was in my mid 20s, I was addicted to heroin and crack intravenously. From then on, I spent 13 years in active addiction, in and out of prison and experiencing long periods of homelessness.

My recovery journey with Via began many years ago and continued through a long period of support. When I came off opioid substitution treatment, I had no direction or hope of a future as I had spent my entire life using drugs and was still addicted to my prescribed medications. I had no idea of what a future without substances would look like for myself – all I knew is that if I didn’t stop using, I was going to die.

At this point in my life, I have experienced 2 overdoses (1 of which was intentional), alongside a range of other significant health complications – including nearly losing a leg – all due to injecting. So, I knew I had to change.

One by one I came off everything, except diazepam. I completed my final detox from diazepam during a peer mentoring training course. Whilst I was receiving the recovery check-ups, peer mentoring was suggested to me by a recovery practitioner. Initially I was reluctant to the idea, but after giving some serious consideration I decided it could potentially help me to stay clean. So, after having the interview and meeting the facilitator, I started to become a little more confident that this could be just what I needed in my life – a sense of purpose.

As soon as I started training, I knew it, this is what I want to do – use my own life experiences to try to help others who found themselves living a life that was full of unhappiness. I completed my peer training at Via and went on to volunteer in this role. During this time, I started to feel I had finally found my true calling in life and just knew this was what I wanted to do going forward in my life – I wanted to work in recovery and help people.

This helped me grow so much as a person, and also learn about who I was as a person. I found a sense of identity through volunteering as a peer mentor. I started with 1 day a week, proving myself to the staff that my boundaries were firmly in place.

Eventually, I was volunteering 5 days a week and thriving in my role and starting to realise I am actually really good at what I do. Running groups is where I’m strongest but also equally as good in 1-2-1 sessions. My willingness to keep learning, bettering myself, and my knowledge of working in recovery as well as always making myself available to help my colleagues really helped me to cement myself as a valued member of the team.

The final confirmation, which told me this is what I am meant to be doing with my life and personal recovery, was winning an accolade at Via’s annual awards – a huge deal for myself and something I am very proud of. My 2 year goal when I first started peer mentoring was to become employable, and I can proudly say that a couple of months ago I was attending interviews for roles available with Via, and was successful in attaining a trainee recovery practitioner role. I am now currently in my first month of being employed, working in recovery and 4 years clean.

Carl

I have a lifetime of lived experience behind me, since getting clean I needed to find structure to my days.  

Volunteering with Via has given me structure to my week, and I have found a real passion for working in recovery.  

It’s helped keep me get clean and given me a better insight into my own recovery journey. I also got to meet all manner of different people in recovery, with both working and personal sides to it.  

There are so many skills I’ve gained through Via [and] I’d say I [now] have a better level of understanding in people and choices we make as addicts. I’ve found the dispute of rational/irrational thinking essential to my own thinking patterns. 

What would I say to someone who is thinking of volunteering for Via?   

Go for it – it’s definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made since coming away from a drug using lifestyle and am really looking forward to transitioning from a peer mentor to a volunteer. 

Antonio

What inspired you to volunteer with Via? 

Since arriving in London over two decades ago, I’ve grappled with profound mental health issues, including low self-esteem and lack of parental support, among others. These struggles led me into the dangerous world of drugs and chemsex. Initially, it seemed like ‘just a bit of fun’, but before long, I found myself trapped, unable to break free.

The drugs soon took over, and after several years, I was on the brink of losing my life entirely. However, with the help of a dear friend, after my second urgent recovery, just a few weeks after the first, I managed to contact Via and joined their daily recovery programme. 

Cognitive behavioural therapy fit me like a glove. By the end of the programme, I not only overcame my addiction but also rediscovered my true self beneath the ‘black smoke’. I found the empathetic, caring person I used to be. Grateful for my second chance at life, I felt a strong desire to give back. My life was still a mess, but I embarked on a journey to rebuild it. 

Years later, I began working in healthcare and am now nearing the completion of a Health and Social Care degree. As part of my degree requirements, I needed to find a work placement. For me, there was only one choice: I wanted to return to the place where my new life began and lend a hand. 

What has been the highlight of your volunteering experience? 

Honestly, it’s difficult to narrow it down to a single best part; being accepted was already a dream come true. Walking back into the service with a new perspective was certainly a highlight. Seeing familiar faces, first through the window door and then co-facilitating groups with the team was incredibly special. Working with the BRIC coordinator, who introduced me to the service staff and the Capital Card programme, and who has continuously supported me, has made my experience with Via even more meaningful. 

How have you benefited from your volunteering experience?  

Volunteering has provided me with a profound sense of purpose and fulfilment. Knowing that everything I endured throughout my addiction has not gone to waste has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a peculiar way to gain qualifications, but given my circumstances, it was the path I had to take. There’s a Spanish saying that goes, “If life gives you lemons, you learn how to make lemonade.” In many ways, I believe I am doing just that, and the benefits have been immense. 

Volunteering has allowed me to transform my past struggles into a source of strength and empathy, enabling me to help others facing similar challenges. It’s been incredibly validating to see how my experiences can positively impact others’ lives. Additionally, this work has given me a renewed sense of direction and self-worth, reinforcing my commitment to making a difference in the community. 

Moreover, the connections I’ve made with colleagues and those I support have enriched my life beyond measure. Collaborating with the team at Via has not only expanded my professional network but also provided me with a strong support system. These relationships have been crucial in my ongoing recovery and personal growth. 

Overall, my volunteering experience has been transformative, turning my past hardships into valuable lessons and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to society. The sense of purpose and fulfilment I’ve gained is something I couldn’t have imagined a few years ago, and it continues to inspire me every day. 

How have you applied your skills and experience? 

Initially, personal commitments limited the time I could volunteer to one day per week and I only managed to attend the first session of the online training. However, my previous healthcare experience provided me with valuable skills that have been beneficial in my current role. 

I had learned to be highly observant, particularly in recognising signs of distress in a room. This skill has translated well to my volunteering, allowing me to detect emotional distress and signs of withdrawal from service users during sessions. For instance, I recently noticed a service user who seemed emotionally distressed and withdrawn. Drawing on my communication skills and remembering when it was me doing the same thing, back in the days, I have engaged positively, helping to alleviate discomfort. 

Applying these skills in a new context has been incredibly rewarding. It has reinforced my ability to connect with and support others, even outside my initial area of expertise. The experience has highlighted the versatility of the skills I’ve developed and their importance in fostering a supportive and understanding environment for those in need. 

What would you say to someone who is thinking of volunteering at Via? 

At the heart of everything, I believe there are immense personal rewards to be gained from simply being present and listening to these life stories. While the stories might seem similar at first, each one is uniquely significant to the person sharing it. Volunteering provides a safe space where people can express their deepest worries and struggles without judgment, feel valued, and learn how to overcome their challenges. 

To those considering volunteering for Via, I would say, you will be making a difference in people’s lives just by being there. 

Volunteering can also be the start of a fantastic career focused on promoting and creating health.  

Beyond the personal fulfilment, you get numerous benefits, such as free events and visits and special access to historical places like Kensington Palace and Westminster Abbey.  

What’s not to like? 

Matteo

I started volunteering at Via in October 2020 as a Volunteer Recovery Practitioner.

I used to work in the fashion industry, however I made the decision to change careers because I wanted to make a difference to people’s lives. I’ve experience of addiction and I feel that I can make use of what I have learnt from my own recovery journey to help others facing similar difficulties with substance misuse. Having studied Psychology at the University of East London, I also wanted to apply my psychology background to my volunteering and work.

The best thing for me about volunteering [at Via] is the wide range of professional training that is available.

I’ve had the opportunity to learn and develop by shadowing some very knowledgeable mentors and by attending many courses. I was also able to gain valuable experience working with services users by co-facilitating health trainings and non-dependent groups.

As well as helping service users with their drug and alcohol issues, I’ve also been able help them with other areas of their life too.

Some of our service users don’t have access to the internet and they struggle to fill in online forms. This can make it difficult for them to access essential services like benefits and housing support. I’ve helped people access benefits and food vouchers by supporting them with form filling and contacting agencies.

My volunteering experience has also helped in my own personal life as I’ve developed transferrable life skills such as boundary setting, SMART goals, and office etiquette.

Volunteering has boosted my self-confidence and sense of achievement and has helped me achieve my career goal to work in the drug and alcohol field.

Don’t be afraid to try new things – volunteering is a life changing experience!

Anthony

After more than a decade of working hard and playing hard in my spare time, my lifestyle finally caught up with me; I burnt out in spectacular fashion, descending into addiction, losing my job and my home in the process.

Life became a matter of survival until I engaged with Via and was helped to gradually rebuild from the ground up. I was encouraged to attend training to become a peer mentor by my keyworker.

When the opportunity came up to help welcome new service users in the Induction Group I took it, even though I wasn’t sure sharing my experience of recovery would be relevant to anyone else. The positive response I got from the group members hearing from someone who had been in their position and managed to turn things around made me realise I could have an impact.

The role helped me build my self-esteem back up and I felt like I had some purpose again. With the confidence that brought me, I decided to go back to studying, and enrolled on a counselling course.

Over the three years I have been at college, I have continued to volunteer at Via in various roles. I recently did some great experiential training with other volunteers that gave me a boost in my skills.

Finally, impossibly, I’ve come full circle and am helping train a brilliant new group of peer mentors. I’d never have believed it if someone had told me that one day I’d be in front of a class teaching, but here I am.

If you are someone who is considering taking up a volunteering role, my advice is to grab the opportunity.

The experience that I’ve had at Via has been encouragement to challenge myself in a supportive environment.

It has allowed me to build skills that have opened up options for me to get back into work and turned what was a very difficult time in my life into something meaningful.