What Our Residents Say

The below  service user testimonials, from service users at our Residential services outline their opinions on Phoenix Futures.

“I came to Hampshire Residential Service to learn how to know myself, stop using drugs and be happy and contented. I lost a lot through taking drugs; myself, my home and nearly my family, something that I love more than anything in the whole wide world. Being here has taught me to learn how to recognise my behaviours and take a good look at myself and what makes me use drugs! My worst days have actually been my best days here, they have made me the person I am today. I know now that I have the ability to go out in the big bad world and survive without taking drugs and abusing myself. I have learnt to love me, just for being me. So big thanks to all my peers and staff who help and believed in me when I just could not see the light…”

Resident at Scottish Residential Service:

“Drink was my main problem and I drank from an early age. I realised it was a problem when I was in my early 20′s when I started going to prison. I have pancreatitis due to my drinking. The final straw was waking up in a hospital bed and finding my family crying because they thought I wouldn’t make it.

I had been lost through all those years of drink and drug abuse. I feel I am building a lot of new foundations, like friends and my family. I am enjoying it, it has been good for me and hopefully in the future I will have a new network of people to socialise with. I am hoping to go on to resettlement after this. My family are very happy that I am here. My mum has seen a big difference in me from before and says she knows that I can do something with my life.”

 Residents at Sheffield Residential Service:

“Phoenix Futures has been a big realisation for me, I have worked with a lot of things that I didn’t even see were problems for me. I just thought that I was coming off drugs but we all have other problems that we need to sort out that got us to taking drugs in the first place. I have found that the staff/peers are all understanding about everything. We also have the Therapeutic Community side of it which is really positive.”

“I have been here two weeks and I have already noticed big changes in my behaviour and attitude. It has started giving me a different way of looking at life and I know have hope for the future.”

“Before I came to recovery I was in a very bad place. I was overweight and using different substances. I came in very nervous but was made to feel welcome … I went to bed one night with my head all over from lack of sleep at the end of my detox. When I woke up it was like my mind had cleared for the first time in years. I could think properly and it was the best feeling.”

Mick, resident at Tyneside Residential Service:

“Before my arrival at Phoenix Futures Tyneside Residential Service my life was no longer my own, it was controlled by prescription medication with sporadic drug use for nearly twenty years. When I arrived at Phoenix Futures I was emotionally unstable with major issues relating to my past and also current legal family issues, which were contributing factors in my drug use.

The journey of personal discovery and the level of change that I have achieved are well beyond what I could have expected. All in all Phoenix Residential has given me my life back, with the opportunities to take it in a new more positive direction. It has helped rebuild relationships with my family and mostly it has helped realise the person I am and the potential I have and given me the motivation to achieve this potential.”

 Tony, ‘Fast Track’ resident at Wirral Residential Service:

“I’ve spent most of my years addicted to one substance or another, committing crime to fund this habit. By the time I was 21 I was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine. My crimes became more serious and my prison terms more frequent and lengthy. All through the next 10 years this was my life. I’d be released clean and sober, then have a crisis, start to take heavy drugs and commit crime, then I’d be back in prison. An endless cycle, until my ex-partner gave birth to my twins whilst I was on a sentence. That first prison visit with my babies left me with a feeling of heartache at what I had done to myself and my children. I contacted CARATS in the prison and they gave me information regarding Phoenix Futures Therapeutic Community at HMP Garth. I snapped up the chance. Within the week was inducted onto the programme. At first it was a hard transition but with the support of staff and peers I settled quickly. Without Phoenix Futures, I’d still be running around prison landings scoring drugs. I’m now on the fast track programme having completed the programme in prison and being released. I’m now six months in after spending six weeks in the main house and four months in the Re-entry house – I will complete soon. I now have the strength to create goals without fear of failure. I can now react to negative situations productively. Most of all though, I like the person that I am now. Without Phoenix Futures I’d be lost, with them I’ve managed to find myself.”