I'm Archie*. I first became homeless when I was 12 years old because of an abusive relationship with my father. I left the family home and was living with friends and relatives off and on since then. Because of this, I was looking out for myself and didn’t have anyone to teach me things like how to cook or how to use a washing machine.

I made some bad choices and this led to a brush with the law and some prison time.

When I came out of prison I had nowhere to go. I stayed a little while with a relative, but couldn’t stay there on a long term basis because her tenancy agreement would not allow it.

I was told about Ferry Project and I met with some of the team who were able to move me directly into the hostel at Clarkson House. Since then they have helped me with all sorts of things such as gaining access to a Mental Health Nurse, as well as visiting the Nurse Practitioner who comes in to the hostel from a near by GP surgery.

I was introduced to the lovely lady who runs the cookery school at the project and I have since started to learn how to cook. It is brilliant! The day after my first cookery session I was able to visit some of my family and cook them a meal – I was so pleased I could do that for them.

I have also made use of the smoking cessation service offered to me here at Ferry Project and, with their support, have now stopped smoking.

I have also taken advantage of the volunteering and training programme available here and am looking to start my own small business breeding and selling tropical fish.

I have since moved out of the hostel at Clarkson House and am now continuing my journey living in a bedsit. I am still supported by Ferry Project, although with a lighter touch now that I am no longer in the hostel because life is more manageable for me now.

I am now able to look forward to a future that is a little bit brighter than it was in the past.

*Name changed for anonymity