Rob Rowe, Head of Development, The Sanctuary Trust
At The Sanctuary Trust, we are deeply committed to the belief that every individual, regardless of their past experiences, has the potential to transform both their own life and their community for the better. This core belief is reflected in our workforce, with 67% of our team members having lived experience, directly impacting the homelessness community every day.
As Head of Development at The Sanctuary Trust, I firmly believe that individuals with a history of substance misuse bring invaluable perspectives to the third sector. This is especially true in my case, as I am also a lived experience worker. My journey is not unique; I was once among the 18.4%* of heavy episodic alcohol drinkers, with a 20-year history of heroin and crack cocaine abuse.
The person I am today is unrecognizable from the young man I was 10 years ago. At the age of 40, I walked out of prison for the twelfth time, carrying 80 convictions on my record, along with countless excuses for why I had not achieved my goals.
At that point, I had written myself off as unemployable. My life had been dominated by addiction, blackouts, and severe mental health struggles. I even exaggerated my circumstances in desperation for benefits, but despite my efforts, I found it nearly impossible to secure employment. My journey had veered far off the conventional path by the time I was 16, and both others and I saw no value in my skill set, except for a PhD in polysubstance use and evading my problems. I genuinely believed I would never work again. For my mother, the only comfort was knowing that when I was incarcerated, I could not fall any further. I frequently went missing and came close to death on more occasions than I care to count.
Years of substance misuse, combined with numerous adverse childhood experiences, had stripped me of my self-esteem and self-respect. I was overwhelmed by guilt and shame over the person I had become.
One of my greatest challenges was finding the strength to persevere, regardless of how others perceived me. Given my history, few believed I could contribute meaningfully in any setting, let alone the workplace. Despite this, there were those who took a chance on me, offering support as I began the difficult journey of recovery. I eventually reached a turning point, realizing that I could persevere even when others doubted my potential. Once free of those doubts, I found the confidence to move forward. I enrolled in college-level courses, started as a volunteer with The Sanctuary Trust, and gradually worked my way through frontline work, management, and into senior leadership. It was by no means an easy journey.
I dedicated countless hours to enhancing my skills and knowledge, often seeking out opportunities in my personal time. I worked harder than many to prove that I was ready to make lasting changes in my life. For the past eight years, I have continued to show up consistently, disproving the assumptions others made about me.
This morning, as I reviewed budgets, action plans, and assessed our progress toward meeting our goals for the new financial year, I took a moment to reflect on my personal progress towards my goals in the past decade. What was instrumental in my recovery were the opportunities I was given and the resilience to push forward despite the doubt that surrounded me.
I remain deeply connected to my roots, and you will find me in a circle at least once a week, introducing myself by saying, “Hi, my name is Rob, and I’m an addict,” as I await the next person to walk through the door, searching for a way out. Anyone can change. Despite my past, I am living proof that recovery is possible. It is my hope that my story can serve as an inspiration to others who simply need the opportunity to achieve.
If you would like to connect or discuss the value of lived experience in our sector, please feel free to reach out via email at [email protected]. I’m always open to a conversation and would welcome the chance to share insights over a cup of coffee.
*According to the Global Statistics on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Drug Use: 2017 Status Report.
