"DART service has been a big support."

I first come to find out about the DART service whilst is was in HMP Grendon during a class in they was holding on my wing, something come over me and I thought best to pop in and speak to someone as I was fresh off of drugs for about 6 months and had a few problems I thought would cause me to relapse so thought best to seek some advice. I met a lovely woman in there called Nat who then became my keyworker. As well as Nat I also had 2 other key workers due to changing circumstances, them being Cathryn and Caz. 

All 3 key workers were brilliant and really helped me though some of my issues and I found all of our one to one sessions to be really personalised and more like counselling as we covered all sorts of areas in our sessions on most things like on impact drug use. As well as my one to one sessions I attended mutual aid events that were set up by DART where I found some great advice from visiting speakers and who was also jailed with a let of hope in terms of the success of my recovery in the future because I was able to really picture a reality of an abstinent life through the men that came in to speak. I was also given an opportunity myself to speak at an event through my key worker Cathryn who told me it would be good for me to push myself out of my comfort zone and tell my story in front of and audience, I was hesitant at first but with a lot of support I went through with it and felt so confident in myself for doing so. 

All in all I have had an incredible experience with DART service and have so much gratitude for everyone on the team who have helped me and my journey doesn't end there as I'm now in a D-Cat prison where I'm still working with DART and receiving as much support and I'm filled with hope for a better life. I would like to give a massive thank you to Nat, Cathryn, Caz and Julien from Grenden and to Silla, Lindsay, Gemma and again Nat at Spring Hill