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Go to P3 HousingMeeting Emma as a Support Worker you’d be unaware of the extent of her story, but it is clear she is touched by compassion, kindness and approachability. But it’s not always been this way – when Emma first met P3, it wasn’t through work – but through support.
After surviving a turbulent 12-year marriage fuelled by domestic violence and alcoholism, Emma found herself stripped of everything she knew. Placed in a run-down woman’s refuge with her two young daughters, Emma realised to keep her children safe and stable she would have to give them back to their dad until she could find longer term accommodation.
“I know I was a nightmare because I was an alcoholic, but that was my coping mechanism for his abuse. But then his abuse was also fuelled by my alcoholism, so it was just a vicious cycle really.”
Completely alone, she was allocated a one-bedroom property. Without her kids, she couldn’t apply for more rooms – and without more room, she couldn’t get her kids back. ‘So, yeah, my mental health took a nosedive.’
Losing access to her children, Emma’s drinking got out of control so much that she almost died. Funding her drinking with all the money she had, Emma got into a lot of debt with rent arrears – having absolutely nothing but a blow-up bed, a bean bag and a television.
Engaging with a local drug and alcohol support programme, Emma was placed in rehab in Salisbury. After doing the full six weeks, she started engaging with social services – doing everything she could to get her children back. They suggested a referral to P3 to help her resolve her debts and find her appropriate housing, so Emma could then get her children back into her care. She admits, ‘I was terrified to be honest – I was only about three months sober at the time.’
Emma was paired with her support worker, Mel, who helped her secure a two-bedroom property, a PIP plan, grants for her children, furniture and even attended appointments with social services. ‘With her amazing support,’ Emma was able to get her daughters back.
It was towards the end of her support when Mel suggested Emma should start volunteering to rebuild her confidence. At the start of her volunteering journey, ‘it was still early days as [Emma’s] mental health was shot to pieces.’ She knew eventually she would have to go back to work but still needed time to grow and adjust.
Volunteering for two years, Emma ran three morning and afternoon groups for people in support. Starting with an arts and crafts group, Emma supported adults with learning difficulties. ‘I was nervous – and so was everyone else. But as they got more creative, they gained confidence – and then that helped me as well!’
“Volunteering was vital – it helped me build my confidence back up and gave me a reason to get up in the morning.”
From there, Emma started a mindfulness colouring group and then started supporting full-time colleagues with risk assessments. Sooner or later, her voluntary role equipped her with the skills to become a full-time support worker. Going back to college, Emma picked up her Level 2 in drug and alcohol recovery and Level 3 in counselling as well as qualifications in children and young people’s mental health and arts for mental health.
Emma’s passion for art and for helping people in turn led to her own recovery. She recalls how her ‘ex-husband pulled any sort of confidence or creativity [she] had’, ‘the art group really helped me tap back into that again – I’m now getting back into it in my own time.’
Smiling, Emma talks about her degree in Book Illustration – and how she would have never expected to lose creativity for such a time. Regaining it has been like regaining her sense of self. Wanting to make her creative spirit a permanent fixture at P3, colleagues encouraged Emma to get her driver’s license so she could apply for a full-time support role. But right after she got her license, the Coronavirus pandemic hit.
Having to take a backseat for her own health, Emma kept an eye out on P3’s website for jobs. Knowing she ‘always knew [she] wanted to work for P3,’ when a job came up in Cirencester, Emma ‘went for it.’
‘My interview lasted 10 minutes and I had genuinely no idea if it was good or bad. And then I didn’t hear anything for about a month – which is unusual. So, I called up and the people who interviewed me apologised for the delay as they both had covid. They had to sign off for a bit, they kept apologising and said you’ve got the job! I was so happy when I found out!’
Emma feels that her experience has shaped the way she supports people in her role. She reflects during her own recovery that she did a lot a processing and taking accountability – a journey which she recognises is different for everyone.’
For Emma, the highlight of her role is being able to ‘empower people to maintain a life they can live on their own. If you don’t see people coming back, that’s a good thing – it means they’re doing well.’
On a more personal note, Emma has really enjoyed getting to know Mel as a friend rather than a support worker. She smiles and says how ‘life now is great,’ she loves her job, has a support network and has two happy daughters in a safe and comfortable home. Seeing how far she has come on her full circle journey, Emma’s advice to others rings true: ‘never give up. If you’re in an addiction and you’re making progress – you’re amazing. Keep telling yourself that.’
Moving forward, Emma would like to work her way up in P3. Though she is career-driven, for now she wants to continue to work with people face-to-face. ‘People who come to our door need a lot of support right now, and I want to be there to help them.’
Emma was supported by and now works for P3 Gloucestershire, to find out more or get support from us, click the button below.
*Though names haven’t been changed, please note that we have used stock images to protect anonymity.
