Paul has been a part of our Active Choices programme since going into recovery eight months ago and despite only being involved for a short period of time, has already seen the benefits of the programme.

He said: “It’s been massively beneficial, it's having somewhere to go that has the unity. Being stuck in addiction is an isolating place so to come to a programme like Active Choices, you feel part of something and the community in the programme is nice.

“There’s a sort of therapeutic value from one addict helping another. You don’t feel alone when you’re discussing your problems, because the people you're discussing your problems with have experienced the same issues, so you feel more at ease when you are speaking to these people.”

As well as providing Paul with a network where he can discuss his problems, Active Choices has also helped him overcome them and helped boost his confidence amongst other things.

“I have always been very self-obsessed and self-conscious. I always felt like people were judging me, that I wasn't good enough to be around people or things like that. I have always wanted to do things but my head has held me back.

"When I first came I always watched the football sessions and wanted to play but then I thought: ‘I am too fat to play’ or ‘people will laugh at me’.

"Adam, who works on the programme, said to just try it. I think I started playing 15 minutes and then 20 minutes and before you know it I was playing the full hour.

“We went to a tournament in Leicester and I did an interview with BBC News. Eight months ago, I wouldn’t have even come out my bedroom and spoke to my own mum never mind doing an interview on TV or being involved in a community event like that.

“It’s helped build my confidence, it’s helped build my fitness. It’s helped me believe in myself, that is something I never really did. I always doubted everything and being a part of this programme is good.

“It’s not that we need praise all the time but it’s nice to be told that you’re doing well, keep going. It can be disheartening when you’re on your own sometimes but being part of what I am is nice.”

Taking huge steps forward on his journey, Paul has recently taken up volunteering, which has seen him support the Boxfit session that he has been a regular participant at. For him it’s been the perfect chance to pass on the knowledge he has learnt on his journey.

He said: “I was asked to help at the boxing session and I also help with a rehab group that come in on a Thursday called Studio House, so I took my volunteering further from that.

“The way I look at it is I feel that I have got to help people, as it's something that was so freely given to me, it would be selfish of me not to give it back when there are people out there that are struggling.

“They don’t fully understand recovery, they don’t grasp recovery. They don’t even understand addiction, but when you sit them down and explain you’re not responsible for your disease, because it is a disease, they get a better understanding then.”

Active Choices