Restart
Success Stories
Helping guide and support individuals rejoin society and assisting them in navigating their integration journey
Sheila’s story – Home sweet home
Sheila was a resident of one of our Restart properties many years ago. The first time she left us having been recalled to prison, but she was given a second chance with us in January 2021.
When she started in service with us, Sheila spent a lot of time in her room and was very isolated. We supported her to engage with probation, attend the GP, improve her mental health, address her alcohol issues and work towards better management of her finances. As Sheila spent more time in Restart, she started to engage in some of our activities with support.
As a result of her good engagement and progress in lots of areas of her life, Sheila was able to move into a single-let property, she completed probation and was able to build positive relationships with other residents.
As she continued to improve, Sheila was able to buy and car and go on holiday. Her good progress was rewarded with a move into a council bungalow.
Restart helped Sheila to obtain furniture and household goods to make her house feel like a home. She still pops into our breakfast club every now and again to say hello.
Tim’s story – Help with making positive changes
Tim came to Restart for the third time in March 2024. He had a challenging start to his stay with us and moved around various properties and struggled to engage with us and with IOM.
Tim made a choice that he wanted to make a positive change and began engaging really well with IOM, Probation, CDAS and his Restart support worker. He also began volunteering to keep himself busy.
When Tim attended court for some shoplifting offences, the judge decided against sending him back to prison because of the positive progress he had made and the clear evidence that he was trying to better himself. He began to show some interest in rehab and was referred to WALK Ministries. They set him various targets to meet before they could accept him and Tim, along with his support worker, worked hard and met all the targets that had been set for him.
Tim moved into WALK Ministries in January 2025 where he is thriving and continuing to make positive steps.
Shaun’s story – Support with his battles
Shaun joined Restart in January 2024. When he first joined us, he was misusing a variety of substances, battling offending behaviour and had little contact from any family or friends. He also had a variety of mental health concerns and a diagnosis of dyslexia which made it really difficult for him to manage general life.
He was supported to engage with STARS to address his substance misuse and to attend the GP for appointments relating to his mental health which he found very beneficial. Shaun has now completed IOM and currently is demonstrating no re-offending behaviour.
His support worker has also supported him to communicate with family members who he now spends a lot of time with and can support him if his mental health does dip.
Shaun remains in our service and he has made great progress regarding his substance misuse, no re-offending behaviour and has positively re-connected with family members which has been hugely beneficial to his mental health.
