"Over the years I, like most people, have had a few issues to overcome - death, break down of relationships and unemployment. I had a job where I was earning good money, I’d obtained a mortgage, bought a home, I was king of my castle, it was a nice place and I felt content. Then I lost my job, it was just free fall for the next few years. After around three years of juggling to stay afloat, I obtained another full time job and it was a job that I enjoyed immensely, I met a fantastic woman and things started to get back onto an even keel; once more my life was filled with joy, laughter and excitement. This was short lived as my relationship faded and we drifted apart. When I met her it was as if somebody lit a match and the fireworks had begun, I miss that time in my life. My job was lost again; that's when things got really dark, there were times I wish I could be swallowed up by the world and that my pain and hurt would stop; my thoughts were as dark as you could imagine. Everything had gone for good this time and I had no more fight in me.
Then I moved into supported and sheltered accommodation, the residents there have a whole host of issues. If I'm honest I felt embarrassed being there, thinking how and why am I here, I had a house and job, what's happened?
I then met my Tomorrow’s People coach, Phil, and now my real journey into becoming a person again starts. This was a focal point on my road to recovery and I’m glad to say Phil is a good friend to me now and I couldn't have done this journey without him. The future is unknown but I’d like to be happy, financially secure, with a lovely partner and maybe some miniatures running around. Before long I will have the strong foundations to be able to build the dream life I want but I couldn't do this without Tomorrow’s People and their strong network and the influence they had on me to say ‘I do matter, I can do this’."
Portrait // Steven, Liverpool. 38.