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Bringing God's grace and healing love
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Client Stories
August 2006
From Andy
A Christian refugee from Eritrea, [A], came to Bristol to escape the war and persecution. He completed the LITE course, went on to do an ESOL course and after months of applying for job after job has eventually gained a full time paid care job. He had a responsible job in education in his own country but went through a very discouraging and despondent time feeling he must be a "disgusting" person who no-one wanted to employ. He is now a changed man. The smile has returned to his face and he is so grateful for the start we were able to give him.
Another student, [B], who has done the rounds of support agencies and voluntary work placements without gaining paid work, wrote on his evaluation sheet this week "The LITE course for me has been very helpful to achieve my full potential. It brings out the best in me - a lifeline to the future." He has quite a knowledge of computers and was very helpful sharing his knowledge with others on the course. This was a tremendous boost to his confidence. He has just started another part time voluntary work placement.
A student from the last course, [C], went to London to complete a British Signing Course. She also has a paid care job.
Recently [D] completed a voluntary work placement at Inland Revenue through Business in the Community.
Two weeks ago [E] went on a BBC story telling work shop at St Pauls Family & Learning Centre.
Another student, [F], has last week started a part time voluntary work placement at Emmaus.
From Trudie
[G] (in her late 20s), when we first met her, was very quiet and withdrawn and potentially aggressive. She came in and asked for food she could take away, and she took it back to her room in the hostel to eat. She didn't like being with people. She has been addicted to drugs for many years, was on a methadone prescription towards recovery but also supplementing this with illicit drugs. In an incident in St Pauls, she was knifed for her drugs (which she did not hand over), but that incident seems to have helped her see the mess she was in. She chose to change and, since then, has not supplemented her methadone prescription and has been amazingly well motivated in accessing the services available to her, such as BDP. A church in the area (Elim) was very significant to her around the time she made that decision. For a time she helped some of our volunteers prepare and cook food for one of our evening sessions and she also generally helped with the session. She is now in her own flat (supported accommodation), off Methadone and onto Subutex and has been given a date for detox at Blackberry Hill. We were able to build relationship when she was withdrawn and see her begin to open up. Where she was hooded (her style of dress was consistently a red jogging suit with the hood was always up and she wore this all the time), avoided eye contact and got out of the shop as soon as possible, her clothes are different and varied, her eyes are clear, she comes in to talk to us and specifically asks for help, her head is raised, she walks confidently and talks of beginning to find out what life is about without drugs. We are not the whole picture for her, but an important part of the support she receives. We continue to provide background support on her journey and involvement with other agencies so that she can tell us how it's going, get emotional support and some practical support such as food and buying some basic items for her when she moved into her flat. She contacted and asked that we visit her in detox so our support is important to her.
[H] - finding support here in the middle of her turmoil with her young baby most likely being adopted. She had been visiting The Wild Goose for some time and talked of her life and the tragedies she had experienced. Because of her previous life experience, we were surprised when she told us she was pregnant, but supported her through this and liaised with all the other organisations involved. Staff and volunteers were able to visit her at St Michaels just after the baby was born and be present when she handed the baby over to foster mother. Her social worker was keen to give her as much opportunity to keep her son as possible, and arranged a placement in a mother and baby unit. We were able to keep in contact while she was there and primarily provide emotional support to [H]. Unfortunately, the placement did not prove successful and it is possible that her son will be adopted. We are in the privileged position now of being available to [H], offering her an emotional base and demonstrating care, interest and support. When she is ready to respond to advice we will also offer this. We don't solve the problems, but are alongside people through their struggles demonstrating something of the love of God to them.
[I] comes into the shop quite regularly and quite a few of the volunteers know him, talk with him and encourage him. He is presently considering LITE. Sometimes it's the interest and friendship which is the vital link helping people move forward.
[J] has been in the shop a few times, and came back again this week. He is in accommodation locally which he describes as being like prison. He was married for years and living in France, where he and his wife ran a small business. He is now divorced, lost everything he had and returned to this country. He has relatives around the Bristol area, but is not particularly in touch with them. He talked with a few of us about what has been happening and how awful his experience is at present, which in itself is valuable. He is due to move to other (hopefully more constructive) accommodation, and we have offered whatever support we can, including providing transport for him and his belongings. Unfortunately, he has not kept an appointment and so we now need to wait and see whether he comes in again.
[K] has been using the shop for years. He has lost a leg from the knee down, I think. He is always in a wheel chair. Not a young man, must be in his 50s, has children and grandchildren. Doesn't manage to maintain accommodation, and is now back in Jamaica Street. Has his 'patch' in Broadmead near The Galleries where he sells the Big Issue. He comes into the shop regularly, each time we are open, for his food. We have a good relationship with him. It was his birthday this week and we were able to buy him a card and birthday cake to celebrate.
Some very quiet and reticent people come into the shop, and hide in a corner. As well as providing food and various information resources (all the leaflets on the wall in the shop), we have brilliant volunteers who are able to gently build relationship and encourage people to return.