62-year-old John’s* life began to spiral after his business
began to fail. At the same time, his marriage started to disintegrate; due to
the stress and anxiety he was under, he eventually became alcohol dependent,
disengaged from his family, and withdrew from society, rarely leaving the house
and neglecting to care for himself. As matters worsened and his mental health
deteriorated, John began to suffer from suicidal thoughts.
Alcoholism and mental health issues often go hand in hand -
people with mental health issues are twice as likely to develop alcohol
dependency than the rest of the population. While many use it to numb negative
feelings, in the long run alcohol greatly contributes to stress, anxiety and
depression, meaning sufferers become trapped in an inescapable cycle of trying
to treat a problem with the very thing that is causing it.
John was put in touch with the Better Off Finance programme
by his housing association, who were assisting him in finding a cooker and
using food banks. His situation had deteriorated to the point where he realised
he needed help: he lived alone in a four bedroomed house, and found himself
unable to deal with everyday matters. John came to the decision himself that he
wanted to turn his life around and become alcohol-free, and so reached out for
support.
Through Better Off Finance, John was assigned a Key Worker,
who provided 1-2-1 support throughout his journey. During this period, John
managed to clear his water arrears and create a new payment plan for future
bills; he received a new washing machine, as his previous one had fallen into a
state of disrepair; he reduced his mobile and TV package, and received support
in creating a manageable budget for utility bills and monthly outgoings –
something which he has never done before. A further grant has also been applied
for to top up John’s current income while he is getting back on his feet.
As a result of the support from Better Off Finance and his
Key Worker, things have been looking up for John. After getting his new washing
machine through Better Off Finance and a new cooker from his housing
association, he has started taking care of his appearance and eating healthily,
which has had a huge positive impact on his wellbeing. In turn, this has led to
him reaching out to his family and spending time with his grandchildren – along
with support from a substance misuse charity, contact with his family has been
a massive encouragement in his journey to becoming sober.
The change in John is clear: he’s more confident and sure of
himself, and is managing independently. He’s recently gained a qualification in
First Aid, something which he could never have imagined doing a few months ago.
He said: ‘The support and encouragement from my Key Worker
has been amazing, and I can’t thank he enough for just listening and
understanding my situation. I would urge anyone to access this service. It has
been invaluable to me in realising that there is help if you want it, and it
has started to build my confidence and self-respect back to what it used to
be’.
About
us:
Better
Off Finance is offering residents of the Liverpool City Region who are
currently unemployed (although don't have to be claiming benefits), a bespoke
programme of support.
This
support will be provided at a local community venue or at home if a participant
prefers.
Each
participant will be linked up with their own key worker who will support them
to:
Improve
their financial capability through 1-2-1 support and group work
•
Access employability sessions within the programme
•
Access a Level 2 Accredited ‘Money Mentor’ opportunity
•
Progress into training and education opportunities
•
Prepare and progress into sustainable employment.
Please
contact us via our Facebook or Twitter pages to make a referral or for further
information.
Better
Off Finance is a programme jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
and European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities
Initiative
