Finding Stability

At a young age, R had been taken away from his parents and put up for adoption, as they were unable to look after him due to drug and alcohol use. R was removed from school aged 14 and never returned to education.

As a teenager, R’s biological mother got back in contact with him, which triggered a serious mental health crisis for R. He began to self-medicate on alcohol, crack cocaine and heroin. R’s adoptive parents then asked him to leave the family home resulting in R being made homeless at 17.   

Whilst homeless, R resorted to sex work to gain money to support his drug usage. Dysfunctional relationships with older men only worsened his mental health at a time when he was extremely vulnerable. R had been into prison 14 times, had difficulty coping and had become suicidal. 

Given R’s history, Ark dispensed with the usual criteria requirements so that R could be accepted into the service and be provided with accommodation and stability. Ark staff co-produced a support plan with R that enabled him to feel supported to visualise a future for himself.