Jordan’s story shows that the right support, at the right time, can make a huge difference.

“If I had to describe Lindsay House in three words, it would be simple: Love. Care. Gratitude…”

My life used to be a cycle of drugs, crime, prison and starting over.

I grew up around criminality and spent years selling drugs, taking drugs and getting into trouble. I’d come out of prison determined to do things differently, but before long I’d find myself back in the same habits and the same situations. I ended up in temporary accommodation more than once, and there were times when I honestly couldn’t see a way out.

When I first moved into Lindsay House [supported accommodation in South Lanarkshire], I wasn’t really looking for help. If I’m being honest, I just saw it as somewhere to stay until I got a house. Looking back now, I realise I completely missed what people were trying to do for me.

The staff could see something in me that I couldn’t see in myself.

What made Lindsay House different was that nobody judged me. They knew my background.

They knew I’d been in prison. They knew I was still making bad decisions. But instead of writing me off, they kept showing up.

They listened, they challenged me, they encouraged me and – most importantly – they never gave up on me.

One worker in particular, Ceri, stuck by me through some incredibly difficult times. I was hard work. I made mistakes. I got involved in things I shouldn’t have. I ended up back in prison. But every time I hit rock bottom, there were people encouraging me to keep going.

Over time they helped me learn things that most people take for granted. How to manage a home.

How to pay bills. How to make phone calls I was anxious about making. How to build routines. How to think differently about situations before reacting.

At the time, I didn’t always listen. It was only years later that I realised I’d been listening more than I thought.

Eventually I reached a point where I knew something had to change. The support I’d received gave me the confidence to attend recovery meetings. Then I started courses. Then I started taking recovery seriously.

Today I’m living in rehab and rebuilding my life.

When I look back now, I can honestly say that Lindsay House helped put me on that path. The support didn’t stop when I left the building. People stayed in touch. They continued to encourage me. They helped me believe that a different future was possible.

If I had to describe Lindsay House in three words, it would be simple:

Love. Care. Gratitude.

Because when somebody believes in you before you’re able to believe in yourself, it can change everything.