Hear how Leeanne was able to break free from addiction, reconnect with her family and find life with the support of Bethany Christian Trust.
My dream as a wee girl was to grow up and play football. I never wanted to grow up and be a drug addict.
Leeanne began experimenting with drugs at a young age, having watched her mum using and selling as she grew up.
She got through college and tried to maintain a job, but soon found selling drugs a more effective way to make money. It didn’t take long for her life to begin to unravel. After a chaotic few years, she ended up in jail and suffering from a bleed on the brain that left her with epilepsy.
Leeanne found the Connect Café – a community space run in partnership with Bethany Christian Trust, Menzieshill Parish Church and CrossReach – and gained clarity in her life.
Now that I’ve got a bit of clarity in my life. That’s what I get here [at Connect Cafe]. There are services that come in and work with people and point me in the right direction. [But most of all] this group helps me socialise, helps me get other people’s perceptions on things.
The focus for my future is my daughter and getting my health back together. [I’m focusing] on living, not just existing. I’m sick of just existing.
The Connect Café is a community café run by volunteers from the community for the benefit of the community. The café provides support and volunteering opportunities for people in recovery from a variety of life experiences.
Leeanne currently volunteers at the café where she enjoys seeing people being able to access the same services that helped her on her journey.