Chairperson’s Award
At Sanctuary Trust, we are always proud to recognise people
who go above and beyond in their service to others…
Tony’s Story
From the age of 14, I always saw the lifestyle of drugs and crime as exciting, lots of money and recognition which appealed to me as I was quite a shy and quiet child, never really noticed unless I did something wrong. I spent most of my adult life addicted to heroin and going in and out of jail and rehabs never succeeding in getting clean.
At the age of 47 I decided to become more determined to change my outlook on life. On the 29th of September 2012 was the last time I took any kind of drugs and decided to turn my life around. With the help of two psychologist, I began to work through issues from my past, and learn to understand myself better. After 18 months of self-discovery, learning about my flaws and eventually being able to look at myself in a more positive way and so gain a better outlook on life.
In 2016 I began volunteering firstly for high level where I first came across a person-centred approach to recovery, I began a level two counselling course and started to facilitate groups both at high level and probation service. This helped build my confidence, which helped me to believe I was more worthy than a life of drugs and crime, and that my experiences could help other people.
2017 I started volunteering on the pass it on scheme for sanctuary trust, working in the local soup kitchen and helping at The Step project when needed. I very quickly became employed by sanctuary trust as a crisis worker, helping identify rough sleepers, and working with the homeless sector or RBH to place service users into emergency accommodation.
I now continue to work as a crisis worker but also work in Halsall House abstinence hostel, supporting people with their own addiction problems and other homeless issues.
Since the covid crisis my work as a crisis worker has developed into a more multi agency role, in my role at Halsall house I see myself as a role model and what can be achieved by the residents, if they put in the hard work and remain abstinent, focusing on their futures.
Other Stories
Y life saved after RSI intervention
Y was found rough sleeping by RSI and accepted into Halsall House in summer 2021 due to being homeless in Rochdale with no local connection. He stayed in Halsall house receiving support and staying drug free for several months. He completed “The Way Out” course alongside Narcotics Anonymous meetings and was doing well. Around November
Adam gets a Job!
My Journey with Sanctuary Trust began after the covid lockdown ended in November 2020. I had spent lockdown bored and depressed like a lot of other people and spent a lot of time considering my options for when lockdown was over. I decided to email John Wigley to ask if I could volunteer in the
Steven have hope for the future
I started smoking cannabis at the age of 10 and crime became a daily thing, this resulted in me being in and out of prison most of my life. I progressed to harder drugs and became institutionalized towards the last few years of my addiction. I was either on the streets, homeless or in prison
My life turned around
I was very young when I started experimenting with drugs, this led to being in and out of prison because of offenses in trying to get access to more. At 36, I got a long term prison sentence, and I lost contact with my family and basically had no one. I was released from prison
My journey from deaths door to seeing the light and coming back to life.
My name is Allan Wood and this is my story. I grew up in Chadderton, Manchester. I had a good upbringing my parents did everything they could to provide the best for us. Before addiction I was into sports, swimming, golf, pool, and football. I often think if I could of have a career in
