The healing power of giving back: how volunteering supported my recovery journey

My name is Chris and in June 2021 I was in a place where my addiction had become so bad that my life had started to fall apart around me. I had lost my job, my marriage had broken down, I had to sell my family home, and my family and friends began to distance themselves from me. I had lost myself. I decided that I needed help.

I understood that some things had to change within my life. I had tried and failed to stop using before, but important aspects of my life such as my family, friends, and my home didn’t motivate me at the time me to stick to my decision.

That was until I discovered that the most beneficial and inspiring aspects of the support that I received was being able to seek guidance from people that had been in the same dark place that I was in. Through shared experiences between myself and the people that helped to support me, I felt like I had finally been given the solution to make this work. Learning about their experiences and seeing how they overcame their own challenges gave me hope that I could do the same. The lived experience of the people that helped to support me had a huge impact on my recovery journey.

As I progressed in my recovery, I started to believe in myself again. I felt that I had something to give back to people who were going through a similar experience. At first, full time work wasn’t something that I was ready for – I didn’t want to risk undoing the progress I’d made. This is why volunteering was such a great opportunity for me. I reached out to County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services to join their ambassadors programme. The ambassadors role is specifically made for people with lived experience to provide their own insights for other people seeking help.

After completing the training element of the programme, I was then ready to begin my role within the Peterlee centre. During my role, I assisted staff members within the Recovery Academy Durham (RAD). I enjoyed the role. I felt valued by my colleagues, and the supportive environment motivated me to keep pushing myself. The routine and structure allowed me gain new skills and experiences, and to build on my self-worth.

I loved the role so much that I continued as an ambassador for two years. My colleagues then encouraged me to apply for a permanent position. Although I had initial concerns, I decided to push myself and apply for a new role. I was offered the position and now work for the service, supporting others through their recovery.

Being an ambassador allowed me to grow and manage my recovery, leading me to where I am today. I truly feel that volunteering has been integral to my development and growth into the person I am now.