Jessica Jones

I left school at the age of 15 with little education. With me also being in a Welsh speaking school I use to lose concentration. Which meant I did not get the work done and my behaviour led to me being expelled

With me and my family not living by any public transport I ended up going out with friends every Friday. Staying in the rest of the week depressed me to the point I couldn’t be bothered with nothing which resulted in me staying in bed until 3-4 in the afternoon.

Rows with my mam started getting worse, almost to the point I was getting arrested every week due to me being violent in the home.

My mam decided she no longer wanted me staying there and made me homeless.

I ended up living under a kebab shop where there were no windows and black walls from mould. I moved in with my first partner of four years. We were there for a few months before the council came and condemned it. Meaning it wasn’t safe or healthy for living in. We were given temporary accommodation for a year until moving to Blaenavon into a two bedroom flat.

I started with protocol skills I then had a placement in peacocks in Pontypool. Working all week from 9.00 until 5.30 for £50 a week.

By the time I got home I was so tired which made me moody then that coursed arguments between me and my partner. Thing’s where getting worse. She was very insecure which made her controlling, with her I had no social life and barely saw my family or anyone. I had no confidence and was also very depressed. Police and ambulances where called at least 2-3 times a month as the relationship got violent.

In 2010 she left me, leaving me with all the bills, I couldn’t cope with life and become alcohol dependent. I would drink every night some worse than others to the point I would pass out. I was in a bad place, a few months passed by and I thought I needed to do something, wasn’t sure what but I needed to get out. I was put on a placement at Circulate in the cafe. Circulate seemed a good step forward, with there being no work out there especially for young people it gave me something to do with my days and I now have a routine where I get up in the morning. Circulate has provided me with food safety training, first aid training, confidence building and emotional support.

When I first started in the cafe I would not speak to anyone and would not even communicate with the customers. I now serve and talk to customers and answer the phone, sometimes putting orders through to our wholesalers. Circulate have not only built my confidence it’s also given me some sort of life.

I really enjoy the friendly environment in the cafe and circulate and I have made some really good friends who I will always stay in contact with.

I am still volunteering out of my own will now and am still receiving support and training, Circulate have helped me understand how important it is to be more open minded, and instead of losing my temper I now stop and think things through. As a result I have now started to make amends with my adopted Mum and am now back living in my own flat, I rarely drink and now have a social life. I have got my 2 dogs to keep me on my feet and I’m happier now than I have ever been. Although I still sometimes get bad days but who doesn’tJ. But I know that thanks to the Garnsychan Partnership and Circulate I will overcome any bad days because I have friends and good support.

It is good to smile again.

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