HE WAS hooked on heroin as a teenager and thought he would never been known as anything other than a "junkie".
But after more than 20 years of being involved in crime and drugs, William Halvey is a new man.
He is one of about 350 clients who have been treated at The Bridges, a rehabilitation unit for men, which has been open for almost ten years in Holderness Road, east Hull.
William, known as Bill, has been in and out of prison for most of his life and struggled to turn his life around.
Run by RAPt – the Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust – The Bridges helps former offenders like Bill, of east Hull, who are often in the throes of drug and alcohol addiction.
"A lot of the men here come from dysfunctional backgrounds and I grew up around alcohol and domestic violence," said Bill, 41.
"At nine years old, no schools would take me because I'd been expelled so many times, so I ended up in a place for problem children.
"I started smoking cannabis when I was 11 and, from being a teenager, I was hooked on heroin. The only identity I'd ever had was that of a junkie.
"Drugs almost killed me on a number of occasions and every time I got out of prison, I'd go straight back to the same lifestyle.
"I got involved in crime and supplying drugs and served two-and-half-years in jail the last time, before I decided to get clean."
Bill says another prisoner told him about RAPt while he was in jail and he had treatment before starting to help others.
"You have to want to change the way you are living and reach out for something else," he said. "I'd had enough of the pain.
"I became a peer supporter for 12 months helping other inmates, working on their self-esteem and getting them to show their vulnerability, something which is very difficult for prisoners.
"When I came out of jail, I went to The Bridges and joined the 12-step programme to start to rebuild my life."
The steps see clients admit their mistakes and look at their problems before "putting things right" and moving forward.
"I wanted to gain qualifications, sort out my driving licence and passport and start to get my life back," Bill said.
"I lived in a bed-sit for about two months before moving into a flat and I started to see a clearer picture.
"When I left school, I had no qualifications, but now I have a BTEC and I'm learning to counsel other people.
"I'm now doing voluntary work looking at cognitive behavioural therapy at the Wilberforce Health Centre. My CV looks a lot better and I'm working towards getting a full-time job.
"I am proud of what I've achieved.
"I've made mistakes all of my life but now things are different. You can't come through a place like The Bridges and not take something from it."
The unit was opened in 2004 and has nine bed-sits and eight self-contained flats.
Up to 70 per cent of men who stay in the unit, often for up to 12 weeks, do not relapse within the first year of completing the programme.
Treatment manager Phil Hindle said the centre is funded by a number of local authorities and offenders are often sent from across the country.
"It can cost up to £300,000 to run the unit each year and our fundraising team is fantastic," he said.
"We take referrals from prisons, courts and professionals such as drug practitioners.
"Up to 17 men stay here at a time and we have a unique model that could be put anywhere in the country.
"Most addicts go on a detox programme for two to three weeks first but they are still pretty shaky when they come to us.
"Over the years we've built up quite a community. At first residents were worried thinking we were just housing criminals but we've had no issues and it's become a real hub."
Phil said they have also had four murderers who have served life sentences reach out for support at the unit, only one of whom has since reoffended.
He said he experiences a great deal of "personal reward" hearing stories from former offenders like Bill, who have turned their lives around.
"I've been working here since it opened and in that time we've helped hundreds of men," Phil says.
"We help them to live independently again, manage their bills and teach them how to budget their money.
"Just seeing them fulfil their potential and realise there is a life out there for them makes it all worthwhile."
10
