We also work with families that have suffered as a result of addictions and will work with health services to support people coming off addiction. The case of Catherine shows how vulnerable she had become before she came to live with Save the Family.

Catherine referred herself to Save the Family after becoming addicted to heroin.  She was evicted from her home and was in a desperate situation before coming to Save The Family.

“I used to use drugs but only in a social way and it was fine.  But when I met my boyfriend and he moved in, that was when it all went downhill and fast.  He was an addict, and I ended up using, and before I knew what was happening, I was hooked.  It completely change my life…I’d got myself in a mess.”

Catherine has two children living with her at Save the Family, aged seven and nine. It was Catherine’s father who suggested to Catherine that she should contact Save the Family. Catherine said she came to have a look around the place and talked to people about the support she could access and she knew this was the right decision.

“It was a no brainer, it looked and seemed amazing.”

Since moving in to Save the Family, Catherine has come off heroin successfully and has made significant improvements to her health and well-being.

“When I came here I was really thin and felt vulnerable. I was always looking for answers. Now I feel healthy and much better about myself,  able to cope.”

The support Catherine received included considerable personal support from key workers to help build her self confidence and self esteem; get her children into a Welsh speaking school  help with accessing benefits, and help her with her emotional and physical well-being.

“The support I’ve received has helped me focus on changing my life around. I’m a completely different person now. I’m ready to deal with things now. I came here shattered and now I’m ready to move on.”