Sitting in the garden with a nice ice cold drink, watching the kids playing together, lots of laughter filling the air, is certainly something I will never take for granted, especially when a few years ago I wasn’t so lucky.
Unfortunately I was in an abusive relationship, suffering from emotional and sexual abuse. I had zero confidence. I was really struggling, and with two young children at home I just couldn’t cope. I felt like I was losing my mind. I was going to see psychiatrists, being diagnosed with personality disorders as I wasn’t being completely honest with them, only daring to say some of the truth through fear of the repercussions if I told it all. Those repercussions would come as abuse from my partner who threatened that he would take the children from me.
I was always to and fro with the doctor and health visitor, changing between different medications to try and keep me sane. One day, at an appointment with a health visitor, she told me about Home-Start, and that she thought it would be a good idea for me to be referred to them to see if they could help.
It was a couple of weeks later when Home-Start contacted me. That’s when I met Marney. She explained to me that I would have a volunteer who would come to the house once a week and that they would help me in areas that I suggested. I was later introduced to Becky who was to be my volunteer. I warmed to her fairly quickly and was made to feel at ease. Over time with her visiting I felt that I was able to open up and talk to her, eventually confiding in both Marney and Becky about things that were happening at home.
Being able to confide in them, my confidence was slowly building, especially in being able to open up about the sexual abuse I was suffering. I found the strength to finally get up and walk away with my children and go to the police.
Almost three years on, as I sit her writing this, I am happy to say that I am still growing stronger each day. I have become independent. I am working in a job that I love, supporting myself and my children. I had never imagined that would ever happen. I still have off days, but push through them, determined that what has happened will not define me.
One thing I can be sure of is that I wouldn’t be sat here now without the help and support of Home-Start, Marney or Becky. I have so much to thank them for. They have given me and my children a new lease of life! For that I will eternally be grateful.