Transform didn’t just house me. They gave me back my lifeline.

I had a very difficult childhood. My mum struggled with her mental health, and my siblings and I were in and out of care. When I was nine, my mum went to Ireland for six months, leaving me with my distant father. One day, I was abducted by a lorry driver while playing outside. I later learned he hadn’t faced justice, which triggered one of my first major breakdowns and left me with PTSD.

Despite this, I achieved my GCSEs, A-levels, and a psychology degree. But trauma never disappears. As I got older, I struggled with memory loss, anxiety, depression, and was diagnosed with a personality disorder.

I had a family of my own, but when my daughter was diagnosed with cancer at 26, it was terrifying. Keeping a routine helped us through, and when she recovered, I crashed. PTSD from her illness and unresolved childhood trauma hit me hard. Following a relationship breakdown, I lived in a caravan on a llama farm until my sister helped me avoid homelessness.

At the time, I wasn’t aware of how unwell I was. I struggled with sleep, anxiety, and erratic behaviour, which worsened with a small amount of alcohol. Adult Social Services placed me in accommodation, but I had no real support and couldn’t manage daily life.

That changed when I was referred to Transform Housing and Support. Moving into a high-support flat, everything began to change. “Transform didn’t just house me. They gave me back my lifeline,” I often say. Today, I live in a lower-support flat and get ongoing help from my keyworker, Annie. Her support has enabled me to achieve things I never thought possible.

The past five years have not been smooth. I have spent time in mental health hospitals, especially around Christmas, but each stay is shorter. I have learned to manage my mental health, reach out for help, and maintain a routine. I now work at a charity shop, attend gardening, fitness, and pottery groups, and plan my life in advance, something I never thought I could do.

Medication, practical support, and Annie’s guidance help me navigate challenges, from paperwork to daily life. The holistic support I receive from Transform goes beyond therapy. It is real-life help that keeps me stable. My family is grateful too, knowing that without Transform, I would not be in the place I am today.

I take each day as it comes. And honestly, it is a good word, Transform. It transforms lives.