A trainee on the Xtreme Character Challenge

Ben’s Story

A Home & Community for Young Care Leavers

In 2023, we transformed a derelict pub in Gateshead into a community hub.

Ben moved in a few months later. He was adopted aged 1 but his relationship with his adopted parents broke down just after his 17th birthday. In one year, Ben was moved 20 times. He says, “not many housing providers could deal with my mental health”, which included suicide attempts, self-harm, and overdoses.

His mental health has begun to improve, and he hasn’t overdosed. Ben puts this down to his flat, Handcrafted community and support worker, Neil.

“He’ll go one step further than everyone else… he has had some lived experience, so understands.”

Ben is starting woodwork sessions, and completed the ‘Xtreme Character Challenge’ with us, climbing three Scottish mountains in 72 hours.

Testimonials

I have referred a number of offenders to Handcrafted. The offenders can attend the project several times per week if they wish to, if not daily. This means that they have some where to go and something constructive to do with their time. They can learn new skills or continue to develop skills they already have. They are given the opportunity to try projects they would probably never have considered themselves able to do.

They all take great pride in the items they produce and some have expressed interest in forming their own small businesses on the back of the skills they have learned.

Most of my offenders have then begun to work on their own projects outside of Handcrafted, for example, one produced a bench for a new nature reserve. The offender stated that he feels he has left a legacy for other people to benefit from. Again, this gives them something constructive to do with their time, gives them a sense of pride and self worth. All of this is extremely positive for the offender and helps to deter from further offending.

Lesley G, Durham Constabulary