Watford New Hope Trust

I am forty years old and I was a functioning alcoholic. My Dad drank and when he drank he was not nice. I drank from the age of 14 or 15 and also took recreational drugs.

I lost a limb
In 1999 I was hit by a car and thrown 40ft in the air as I crossed the road. I had too much alcohol in my system for them to operate that night. I lost my lower left leg and was in Hospital for 5 months. When I left I couldn't cope. I was in a lot of pain from my stump, taking prescribed drugs and anything else I could get. If I tried to stop I would just pick up the drink.

I didn't pay the rent and eventually I got kicked out of my council place and I was on the streets. It was the hardest three months of my life, having to sleep down by the canal or in car parks. I went to the day centre and one day someone challenged me about the way I was living.

Eventually after a night in the shelter I asked for help and went to a place called 'Clean and Sober Living' where I started my recovery. Then I got a place in New Hope House and after 4 months I moved into Alpha Court where I've lived for the past 13 months.

They gave me hope
When my Dad was dying last year I was at a very low ebb and finding it hard to deal with my grief. I'm quite a solitary person but the staff here made me feel I was part of a family. They were never pushy but they were there if I needed them. The kindness of the staff and their willingness to help gave me hope. They supported me and built me up on my not so good days.

Since I've lived here I've had the opportunity to start a college course. I've done 13 of the 16 modules but I've had to stop to have another operation on my stump. Eventually I'd like to run my own small business.