Woman who overcame addiction now helping others

A mother-of-two who was helped by a rehabilitation organisation said she is "overrun" with gratitude now her life is back on track.

Sophie - not her real name - was referred to one of The Nelson Trust's women's centres in Gloucestershire seven years ago to address her drug addiction, poor mental health and trauma.

Having recovered, she now works permanently at the trust as part of a team offering support to approximately 4,000 women a year who access its centres across the West and Wales.

"Every woman deserves opportunity and if my hands being held out to that woman is enough... I'll continue to do what I do," Sophie said.

The Nelson Trust was founded in Brimscombe in 1985 as a residential rehabilitation centre for men and women struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, before expanding to four treatment centres in Stroud and nine women's centres in 2010.

The trust launched an "informed gender responsive approach" after staff at the rehabilitation centre realised that a lot of women who were seeking treatment had "significant histories of trauma".

They also found that much of the trauma was linked to domestic abuse and some mothers may have had their children removed from their care.

Sophie was referred to a women's centre after serving a prison sentence.

At that point, she said she knew "enough was enough" and she had to change.

Although she "struggled" to trust women, she credited her key worker for aiding her recovery.

"It was the first time I was looked at as a human being," she said.

"I'm now able to work with women and do what my key worker did for me, which is hold my hand and say 'I know a way out'."

Attendees at the women's centres are offered food and essential items, social opportunities, arts and crafts therapy, and support from specialist organisations across the county.

Niki Gould, director of women's services, said the launch of the women's centres was in 2010 "really successful" and retention rates of clients "shot up".

"It's really heart-wrenching and also empowering knowing the difference that the women's centres make," she said.

"We need a women's centre in every single town.

"Every woman that needs access to a women's centre should have the opportunity," Ms Gould added.

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