Joe first came into contact with St Martins in 2016. In one of his first support sessions Joe said his dream was to have a dog when he was well enough to look after one.
In 2020 Joe moved into his own flat and was soon joined by Chocco the staffie.
This is an outline of Joe’s life and how he was supported by St Martins.
I had a happy childhood – basically mum dad did everything they could for me you know Christmases and birthdays things like that but we didn’t get a lot when it wasn’t Christmas and birthdays. We weren’t that rich – my dad was very down to earth and sort of self-employed and was a boot sales trader and things like that.
I was destined to go into the army because my dad was in the forces back in the day and he would have been a proud father had I got into the army – I was a cadet and just working towards that goal.
I slept on park benches but it was so cold that you just got yourself in somewhere so I moved into the YMCA. I guess that’s where my drug use sort of started after trying heroin – smoking it and just to hide away from my feelings. Then I got better again – I didn’t get addicted to heroin then I just dabbled with it.
I got myself back and I found a girlfriend around 17 and then at 19 I had a four year relationship but then I decided I wanted to go into the army properly and do what I was supposed to do so I started training and getting fit and I was doing well.
Then tragic circumstances happened and I went to prison and that’s where things changed because the army option had gone.
When I got out, I found out that my missus had left me while I was in jail – cheated on me – so when I got out, I just thought I’ll end up on the streets again and I was back in the hostels again.
My first encounter with St Martins was when I got to Norwich. The reason I moved to Norwich was that I had decided to leave that all that life behind me in Ipswich as I was now using heroin regularly so I jumped on the last train to see where that took me and here I was.
I was woken up on a doorstep by Pathways and then I got sent to the Ark and that’s where they mentioned St Martins – so I got taken on by Kendal in the Pathways team and that was the lady who’s come down on the street one morning and told me we’ve got you a place in Bishopbridge House.
So, you need to know St Martins have taken me on not just once – they took me on twice then they took me on three times – they weren’t giving up. By this time I realised I can’t just let this opportunity go, I’m going to lie in bed on the cluck and do this for them because they’re doing it for me.
So Martin, who was my support worker – we used to argue and have our differences -became the guy who really looked after me the most and who I respected the most and who was obviously trying the most. He would bring me bits and bobs like milk to help when I was clucking and I started to think just do it man. I know I can. I want to do it.
It turned into a sort of rehab rather than it being just a home they had support there for me to go ahead and do it.
I was once the product of an army soldier whereas I’m now the product of people who’ve helped me and who have got where I am today. I’m going to do the same and maybe just maybe work for them one day – you never know.
Thank you is not enough you know it’s more than that – very much more.
I mean they’ve given me the chance to have my life again and maybe I can get back to normal and do that.
In 10 years time I hopefully want to have a wife and kids that’s one of the main things I want in life but maybe working at something within St Martins or around that support area when I get off the methadone and over the last hurdles.
I definitely think I can turn around now and say I’ve done it – yeah nice one.
Joe has now been off heroin for over four years and continues to do well and spoil Chocco.