From recovery to rediscovery: Stephen’s CNWL volunteering story

Stephen’s story reflects personal experiences of recovery and growth. All views and quotes are his own, shared with permission.

Let us introduce you to Stephen his story of rediscovery, of finding himself CNWL volunteering and unlocking the kind of future he never imagined was for “someone like him.”

But first, let's turn back the clock.
Stephen’s journey through addiction spanned four decades.

“My first introduction to substances started 40 years ago, soon after I left school,” he says. School had given him rhythm, identity, a sense of being someone. When that ended, the world became shapeless and drugs filled in the gaps.

From there, things quickly spiralled. From early substance use to criminal charges, his life became a whirlwind of survival. There were glimmers of normality such as children, work, moments of calm, but they never lasted. Not while addiction ruled.

“The first time the concept of addiction crossed my mind was when I had heroin withdrawals for the first time,” he says. But even then, the spiral didn’t stop."

And then came the crash.
Two and a half years ago, pneumonia knocked him down hard. Hospitalised. Homeless. Heartbroken. But strangely... relieved.

“I felt a strange relief because my secret was out and I was no longer lying to those around me. Having hit rock bottom, I then stopped lying to myself.” And in that moment, that’s when everything changed. A switch flipped. The spell of addiction cracked.

“I stopped making excuses to myself for my usage. This realisation was like a spell being broken.” From that day on, he turned away from drugs, stayed on his treatment and walked, danced, ate proper meals. Little by little, he pieced himself back together. One glorious, shaky, determined step at a time.

A new chapter began.
He called his new room in supported accommodation “my rehab.” It became a sacred space. And for a year, he healed quietly, on his own terms and he had CNWL’s Recovery Day Programme (RDP) for support.

“Attending the RDP for me was like a revelation,” he beams. “It reinforced all the things I had already been doing... and gave me new insights about my addiction.” Here, he learned that recovery wasn’t just about substances. It was about self-worth, connection, rewriting the way you see yourself. “It improved my confidence and feeling of self-worth, and I realised that my experiences and insights could help others.”

That’s when the spark came.
Stephen’s story didn’t stop at recovery. It burst into life again the moment he realised he had something precious to give back. “I loved the RDP... I realised I was of help to people in the group,” Stephen shares.

That’s when he officially began volunteering with CNWL.
“Shiv, the programme manager, asked me about becoming a Volunteer with CNWL.”

He wasn’t just helping, he was shining. Staff told him it felt like having a co-facilitator in the room. They reflected back to him all the brilliance he didn’t yet see in himself. He was finding himself all over again, this time through purpose and passion.

Volunteering wasn’t just a role, it was both a revelation and a revolution. It opened door after door: shadowing doctors, joining outreach, attending MDT meetings, even escorting someone from hospital to rehab. “It opened a whole new world to me,” he says, still sounding a little awestruck.

And then - boom! came the next chapter: the Volunteer to Career programme.

“At first, I wasn’t even aware of the Volunteer to Career programme,” Stephen admits. “So I was surprised there was an actual path that can take you from volunteering to a permanent role. That pathway is amazing.”

With support from the VtC team, he built his confidence. “I hadn’t had much experience with this type of work interview before... so having that kind of support was absolutely essential,” he says.

From personal statement drafts to pep talks and practice interviews, the VtC programme had his back. “Without that direction, it would have felt much more daunting,” Stephen says. “The help around writing my personal statement and getting ready for the interview – I honestly think it would have been a lot trickier without the VtC support.”

And then it happened.
Through the VtC programme, Stephen was supported into a permanent role which was a Peer Support Worker job with CNWL. The very place where it all began.

“I know it sounds cliché,” he grins, “but it honestly feels like a dream come true. If you could choose exactly the path you wanted and actually get it — that’s what it feels like.

This is me,” he says. “It’s incredibly rewarding. Like a whole new world has opened up for me.”

And finally - his advice to you.
If you’re reading this and wondering, could that be me? Well, Stephen has something to say:

“If you want to do it – don’t be afraid. You never know where it’s going to take you. Some people look at volunteering as just unpaid labour but I’d say look at it like a long interview... If you’re doing something with passion... it’s a really beneficial thing to do, and I think it changes you.”

And on the VtC programme? “It’s like someone holding your hand and guiding you through to a career within CNWL. It’s a special opportunity, and not many places offer something like this.”

So here he is.

Stephen. Volunteer. Mentor. Peer Support Worker. Warrior.

Proof that even the most shattered past can become the stepping stone to a spectacular future.

“This is me now.” And it’s only the beginning