Case studies
Mark Lewis
I was living in a second stage drug rehabilitation centre when I first heard about YourStory. I met them by chance one day while I was watching a game of football on Clapham Common. They were short of players and asked me if I fancied a game so I nipped home and got my boots.
From there I started helping out with the football club and doing some coaching work, and eventually I was running one of the teams which I still do today and still really enjoy it.
Early last year I started doing some voluntary work on our school programme, working with kids who are having problems at school. Now I work on this programme four days a week - it is hard work but very rewarding.
I also work on the mentoring programme. The mentoring programme works with prolific offenders and we provide a support service. It is very challenging work but the rewards of seeing the participants change makes up for that.
Working for YourStory has given me a purpose and a meaning to life. If I had never met with YourStory I would probably be back using drugs by now.