Aspinden Care Home
Specialised residential service supporting people living with the effects of long-term alcohol use
Read more
Support our work
Support our work
Support our work
Learn about the experiences of people at SIG, including people who initially joined us as residents and participants and over time become peer mentors and members of staff.
“After looking after someone, when they are no longer here, you’ve got that sense of not being grounded anymore. Who am I? I’m not a Carer anymore."
Gus was struggling with homelessness and addiction when he was referred to one of our SIG Pathways services.
I wasn’t working and my life had unwound. I had gotten depressed and anxious and didn’t care about anything. I used to be a positive person before but got to a stage where I didn’t want to bother with anything.
I started smoking cannabis. This led to cocaine use, but I never felt I was addicted. I started taking pills in my late teens too, but my drinking was not an issue at that point.
Duarte was arrested a total of five times, all for drunken behaviour. Around this time, he started to hear voices, which kept getting stronger.
I was admitted to Ealing General twice for Nasogastric (NG) feeding. In 2017, I was placed in the low-secure unit and referred to Vincent Square as a day patient.
I broke up with my partner when I was 4 months pregnant due to emotional abuse and violence. I had worked and had a normal life up to this point.
Our family relationships had been strained since my teenaged years when my mother left because of domestic violence. I lived with my dad and younger brother, but the relationship was rocky at best.
I swear, Norah helped me with EVERYTHING! Housing benefits, trying to sort out some documents, getting moved to a private house. She was amazing! I feel so good. Any issue, I call Norah.
George would spend all his benefits on the day it was paid, solely on alcohol and would abscond from the project to drink heavily.
Meryl had no contact with her children’s father and no family support. Meryl was referred to us as where she was residing, she didn’t feel safe.
Kit's mental health was complicated and resistant to treatment because of polysubstance use, which started when he was 13 years old.
John went through a period of aggressive outbursts when he first moved into the service, which initially led to a difficult working relationship with staff. This behaviour could however be viewed in the context of financial hardship as he had no income at the time.
James has struggled with substance misuse (heroin) for 14yrs. He moved away from his family home at 15 and has been without a settled home since then.
Upon assessment, it was clear that Mack needed supported housing as he had rented privately in the past and was unable to manage this due to mental health difficulties and substance use.
Marvin has also been supported by his Resettlement Support Worker to undertake an adult literacy and innumeracy course to assist him with his dyslexia.
Richard has profound hearing loss and is a Registered Sex Offender. He has an ex-partner with a disability whom he helps care for, giving him a sense of purpose.
Just being here helping out and seeing everybody, sometimes its little things like giving someone a lift home. Being able to help has been wonderful. It’s helped my charitable side to develop more.
I had been a fulltime Carer for a while and heard about Roots and always wanted to come. To come here gave me my own space as its very calming.
Despite having a history of complicated health conditions, he did not let this bring him down. Ben had been diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia and an Acoustic Neuroma.
Saffy’s domestic abuse is historic, and she was referred for support regarding her mental health and unsuitable housing,
Dessie has a long history of crack cocaine and heroin use, and engaging in prostitution to fund her habit. She also has a long history of street homelessness.
Prior to moving into our service in Ealing in October 2019, Jonte smoked cannabis and consumed alcohol daily’.
Sixty-year-old Brian came to our SIG Pathways Medway service as a self-referral. He moved into the area whilst working locally and was living in a caravan in woodland.
Our CATE service is funded by Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner’s Grant Fund. It is a specialist outreach service, working in partnership as part of the Conditional Caution Pathway.
Two years ago we shared the story of love between two of the people we support. Please see below for that story and an update.
Sean was referred to our Pathways service from an Approved Premises, where he resided for three months. Prior to this, he served a two-and-a-half-year prison term.
Safe Ground first met Brendon when it was suggested he might be interested in participating in a Man Up programme we ran at HMP Peterborough.
Safe Ground has long recognised that the stereotypes, pressures, and expectations of being a man shape an individual’s identity, particularly in the context of the hyper-masculine, insecure and authoritarian environment that is prison
Resettlement can be a challenging time for many. Joseph needed help to resettle in the community.
Simon was referred to Pathways from Fleming House Approved Premises in Maidstone, where he resided for three months after serving a 2½-year prison term for arson
Gary, a resident at one of our Ealing services, has a history of alcohol use and a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.