Hi guys
I have worked in the addiction/recovery field for over 25 years. I currently coordinate peer support groups for people in recovery and their families. I specialise in Service User Involvement, Coaching, designing, and facilitating bespoke training. Skilled in Communication, Service User Involvement, I find myself thriving in collaboration and partnership environments.
I currently manage Sheffield Recovery Community Forum, coordinating a network of commissioned and non-commissioned lived experienced recovery peer support groups supporting individuals in recovery. I am absolutely passionate about recovery and constantly inspired by people’s journeys.
I am currently writing a book about my own addiction in my early twenties and my personal journey of caring for my Father, who, unbeknown to me at the time, had become an alcoholic. He finally died after developing End Stage Alcoholism. During this time, when I couldn’t sleep, so rather than toss and turn in bed, I’d get me sen up, and went downstairs, open my A4 notebook and write down all the shit that was keeping me awake. (It’s fair to say there is a lot of shit in those books)
I’ve always wanted to write, but to be quite frank ‘Im not the best at English, my grammar is crap, I like to swear, and I don’t know what I’m writing about most of the time’, but I have found that this writing malarkey is like a fucking itch that won’t go away and it actually helps quieten my busy mind.
Before Dad passed, many a time people have said, ‘You could/should write a book’ – this has been a true labour of love and I aim to have it finally published as soon as I can.
This blog helps me not just practice my writing. It also gives me a platform to have a good old offload about life and all the shit that comes with it.
Remember, try not to be afraid of who you truly are, be proud of your recovery and remember, if you would like to subscribe to more posts, please click and go to the bottom of the page and sign up for emails.
Here are a couple of links/publications to the work I have done over the years about addiction
Whilst at UN I did a podcast. Talking about post-traumatic growth and the power of writing with David Closson from the US, who is an ex-veteran in recovery and is now a coach and author on behalf of The Drug Free America Foundation . I shared how I believe that the traumatic events that I experienced primed me for PTG and how the adversity unintentionally helped me better understand myself to become a better version of the person I used to be, you can listen to it hear PODCAST
Had a poem titled Post Traumatic growth published in the 6th Edition of Performing Recovery Maagzine,. in March 2024
Watch my Latest published poetry “𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚” Produced by Stu Turner, Lensgo media.
My Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHPLEFl0YzY
Sheffield Recovery Community – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUySRaOF9Nc&t=265s
Sheffield Families https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj-shT7uo2c
