To cut a long story short

By Drew Foster

To cut a long story short in November 2009 my life was in complete chaos. I was unemployed, diagnosed with severe depression, suffering severe harassment from neighbours, which led to me becoming homeless. To make matters worse, I was a chronic alcoholic with a very negative view on life.

However within a few months my whole life and my perspective on life would change when a charity called the Cyrenians would become involved in my predicament and take me under their wing. I am now recovering from alcoholism and I have been abstinent from alcohol and antidepressants for almost 3 years.

Since I’ve been involved with the Cyrenians, I’ve taken part in a public speaking and debating course run by Durham University whilst at Gifford House in Gateshead, which was the first homeless accommodation I resided at. From Gifford House I was then invited to stay at Virginia House, which opened up the doors for a lot of opportunities for me. The opportunities for self-improvement and progress for a resident at Virginia House were outstanding and the facilities are excellent and all the staff are fantastic.

In the last 3 years I have participated in a creative writing course and I became a published poet. I have performed my poetry publicly at least a dozen times, once at the historic, literary and philosophical society for the launch of the hidden city anthology, a magazine where my poems were published and the actress Charlie Hardwick who’s credits include films the one and only Purely Belter and the television programme Emmerdale as performing my poetry publicly at Crisis Skylight. I’ve engaged in singing lessons with a music therapist and appeared on local television. I’ve been featured twice in the journal newspaper; I’ve taken part in three short film documentaries based on homelessness. Taking part in boxercise I have received 4 non-contact boxing awards. I’ve been a participant on a multi-sports course organised by Northumbria University. I have obtained a number of certificates and have returned to college. I have taken part in at least 3 plays and I have been a participant with streetwise opera, a music and operatics programme and performed live at the royal opera house in London. I have returned to paid employment and have held the position of labourer on 3 construction sites in the last 18 months. I have also travelled around the country to conferences to raise awareness on homeless issues.

My philosophy for life is; don’t count the days, cease the days and make the days count.