Rachel's Story
"We are clean. We are brave. We are strong women with voices that are finally being heard."
It’s 10:00, and the radio is on. Today’s the day—it’s finally here. I was turned down for funding before, but this time, Chang Grow Live (CGL) has connected me with a rehabilitation treatment centre and someone who has the power to say yes or no to my placement: Beth, a senior manager with lived experience. The phone is ringing—here we go.
Fast forward a few months, and I’m at The Nelson Trust. I’m on a raft, helping my team win the away day challenge. Notice I said team. That’s what The Nelson Trust gave me: the ability to be alone with my thoughts but not alone in life.
If someone had told me I’d be sharing a room, I’d have told them to get lost. No chance! But The Nelson Trust worked through the layers. I was suffering from PTSD, and they helped rebuild my trust—in myself and in others.
What’s my life like now? I’m about to start a paid community role set up by The Nelson Trust. I can join in now. I’ve slowly retrained myself to live. The turning point for me was writing a “no-send” letter to my daughter, something The Nelson Trust encouraged me to do.
Is The Nelson Trust still part of my life? Absolutely. I take two walks and six trains to get to the important events, but every time I make it home, climb into bed, and give thanks, I feel that warm glow of accomplishment. Chang Grow Live and The Nelson Trust didn’t just rehabilitate me—they gave me a reason to live.
The phone is ringing again. This time, it’s my former roommate. She’s just been awarded social housing. We are clean. We are brave. We are strong women with voices that are finally being heard.
