A former drug addict has outlined the importance of coffee mornings offering a safe space for women to share personal stories of hardship.
Theresa John, 38, of Salford, managed her recovery and found Christianity through Victory Outreach Manchester.
She is now the manager of the Community Grocery Salford, which is a part of Victory Outreach, and she has come up with many initiatives, including the upcoming free Christmas Meal.
One of her most popular initiatives though is the women’s coffee mornings which allow women to feel safe and provide a space where they can practise their faith. The focus is on helping ex-addicts and aiding them through their rehabilitation.
Theresa, who moved to Salford from London nine years ago, said: “After the pandemic we noticed that a lot of people had become disconnected and a bit isolated, so there’s a few women who are maybe stay at home mums that we just wanted to provide an environment where they can come together and have a bit of a breather.
“We have women who come through from our recovery home that they attend, and they might share how they have been helped through different triggers, so it’s just space for listening and talking.
“I think knowing this feeling, it’s important that I provide a place for people to get help, if it hadn’t of been for people reaching out to me when I was in my addiction and giving me that hope, and helping me restore my faith in humanity, then I don’t know where I’d be. If I can give something back and help even just one person like me then I would be happy.”
“We have something called ‘Victory Homes’, which is the recovery centre for addicts, we have two women in there at the minute and they both attend the coffee mornings and they’re helped from addiction.”
The focus on helping women with addiction is particularly important to Theresa, who suffered from her own addiction up until moving to Salford.
This has given her an understanding of the struggles that addicts face and the support they need, from her own journey to sobriety.
Theresa discussed her own addiction journey: “I didn’t wake up one day and become a drug addict, it was a series of bad choices that led me into a place of having nothing, but I always wanted to get out.
The mornings have had a positive impact on women in the community, including Lorna Johnson, who is an original member of the group.
She explained why she finds the mornings important: “They provided fellowship and support and also generally just getting to know other women. To be able to reconnect and support women who may be in need of talking was also important.
“I went originally to provide support to women who are going through tough times. We want it to be a safe space for other women and if they have any issues or concerns they can find trust in communicating with other women.”
To find more about Victory Outreach and their schemes click here.
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