A once in a lifetime opportunity!

Angela McElroy, client at Watford New Hope Trust (WNHT)
Angela got involved with WNHT in December 2009. Since then, she's made huge steps towards beating her alcohol problems and has gained a qualification in food hygiene. Angela is now working towards acquiring a woodwork qualification and has used her skills to help build a support structure for the spinal feature in the Places of Change garden.

About me:
I was working in a care home for the elderly. I was having problems with my landlord. I was burgled and then my landlord evicted me. I had no where to live. It was a stressful time. I’d had drink issues in the past and with all the stress, I started drinking again. I came to Watford new Hope Trust in December 2009 and I’ve not had a drink since before Christmas.

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Building a different life...

Richard Burns, client at Street Homeless Prevention Team Task Force Volunteer Project
Richard got involved with the Task Force Volunteer project 18 months ago. Here he explains how his life has changed since then and how being involved in the Places of Change garden has helped him to focus on his future and develop a supportive social circle with others involved in the project...

About me:
I’ve had a difficult few years since losing my job in 2005. Before I became homeless, I was employed as a drainage engineer and owned my own house. Things started to go wrong after I lost my driving licence for drink driving; eventually I found myself in prison for driving without a licence and was forced to sell my home. I’ve always been a heavy drinker but I managed to hold down employment and keep my drinking to evenings and weekends.

After I left prison I didn’t have anywhere to go and found myself living in a hostel. It became increasingly difficult to manage my drinking because I was feeling low and didn’t have much to do with my time. I started to drink more heavily and moved onto stronger alcohol. Unfortunately, about 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with early onset Korsakoffs Syndrome which affects my short term memory.

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A chance to see something grow...

Yusif Ahmed, client at SIFA Fireside
Yusif has been involved with SIFA Fireside, on and off over, over the past ten years... Six months ago he started volunteering through SIFA's development programme and he hopes to use his voluntary experience, and the skills he's developed by being involved in the Places of Change garden, to move into full-time employment.

About me:
I am a recovering alcoholic. Before entering the SIFA Fireside residential alcohol programme, I was a heavy drinker and getting myself into trouble.

What activities have you been involved with during your time with SIFA?
For the last 6 months I have been volunteering at SIFA Fireside through their Volunteer Development Programme. I have been volunteering at the allotment since July 2009.

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I'll never forget this experience

Craig O'Shea, client at the Limes, shares his experience of being involved in the Places of Change garden as well as last year's Key Garden...

"My Name is Craig O’Shea.  I’m 23 years old and I’ve been living at Chapter 1’s hostel, the Limes, for 16 months. I was referred to Chapter 1 due to family issues.

I was involved in the Chelsea Flower Show both last year and this year, and have been working with other residents telling them all about what happened at the Chelsea Flower Show and what it’s all about.  I’ve also been telling them about the brilliant time we had at the Eden Project, which we were invited to because of the work we did for the Flower Show.

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If I can do it, anyone can!

Ceri Keating, client from Cyrenians Cymru
Ceri has been involved with Cyrenians Cymru, in Swansea, for the past three years. Here she shares her excitement at being involved in creating the Places of Change garden.

How was your life before you got involved with your current organisation?
I was homeless, sleeping rough, moving between B&B and other hostels. I had a drug and alcohol problem and this became much worse when I was homeless.

What activities have you been involved with during your stay?
Training in first aid, Naxolone training, cookery, guitar and compute lessons and gardening. I attend SANDS (Swansea Drug Project) and now live in my own flat with support from Cyrenians Cymru, I have been clean for over a year.

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Growing for gold...

Angela and Stevo from Steppin' Stone
Seeds are beginning to sprout in the gardens of homelessness agencies up and down the country as work gets under way for the for the Places of Change garden – the biggest plot to be shown at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Angela and ‘Stevo’, clients from the Steppin’ Stone day centre in Oxford, talk about their involvement in last year’s show and how they’re going for gold in 2010…

What did you enjoy about being involved in the Key Garden last year?
Angela: I really enjoyed planting the plants but it was hard work! Going to Chelsea was very exciting – we even bumped into Alan Titchmarsh!
Stevo: I was so chuffed to be one of the people representing Steppin’ Stone at Chelsea. I’ve been interested in gardening since I was a kid so it was fantastic to walk around and see all of the plants – some were even bigger than me!

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