Iain’s Story

"I worked for years in the army but I had to stop. I was feeling kind of lost when I was referred to ROAD When I started ROAD I had nothing, I was still living with my ex and then we split up. I had to rebuild everything again. I wanted to stay in the North East to be here for my son."

Iain worked with his ROAD’s Navigator Alison, and Martina our health trainer from Jack Drum Arts. “I worked for years in the army but I had to stop. I was feeling kind of lost when I was referred to ROAD When I started ROAD I had nothing, I was still living with my ex and then we split up. I had to rebuild everything again. I wanted to stay in the North East to be here for my son. I found out about a course on level 3 Close Protection and level 3 First person on scene course. This will also help me to get level 3 management and level 3 customer service. My attendance to course was all thanks to ROAD. I could attend thanks to a bus pass, boots, top up for my phone, and also a waterproof jacket. If it was not for the facilitation of ROAD I would not have been able to attend. On health and wellbeing side, lockdown was tough for me. I had just moved into my flat and I was on my own. The calls I got throughout the week massively helped. Doing the yoga helped me. I had sort of given up being fit. Using yoga for recovery and doing it with my Health Trainer made it easier. Also breathing exercises were helpful: instead of just losing my temper, I take a step back and I take a breath. I liked the Friday groups because I was feeling I was helping others.” Iain has his own YouTube channel – check out Singing Away Depression with Iain https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdjWx7iz67nD_lckeYyWejg