Last week I was lucky enough to speak with Andy Irving, the latest member of staff to join our Sunderland team. Like many, Andy came to Recovery Connections looking for help with his recovery and has been with us ever since. We talked about all things, recovery, work, and starting a job in the same organisation that helped us.
And it was easy to start with the basics, like age and recovery length (19 months). Andy’s own recovery time started the moment he came to Recovery Connections.
Andy: ‘I started coming to Recovery Connections November 2021. In September I phoned the doctor and said ‘look I need some help, I’m drinking too much and I need some help’. He gave us a number, said ‘here ring them’ and basically passed us off, which to be honest was an amazing thing because the number he gave me was Wear Recovery and that’s how I found this place.
Me: ‘What job have you gotten, within the Charity?’
Andy: ‘Community coach, I’ll be running groups and given a case load, doing one to ones and other bits and bobs, but mainly doing the groups’ Andy goes on to describe what sort of groups Sunderland has to offer its community: ‘Recovery to Wellness course, S.M.A.R.T , because I’m a S.M.A.R.T facilitator as well. I like smart, I like the science-y way. I’m a bit of a geek so I can understand addiction and that makes it easier for me’
Andy: ‘It was a bit of a whirlwind. I applied at Christmas and was turned down for the job. But, as it happened, it came back up. In those couple of months, I’d grown quite a lot, because Hayley (Francis) let me help more with the groups and take the lead more. So it was a lot better this time. I was still nervous about applying for it, but I was more prepared this time and knew what I was doing’
Me:‘What are you looking forward to the most? What are you dreading the most?’
Andy: ‘I’m looking forward the most to giving back, because they gave me my life back for nothing. I didn’t have to pay for any of it, so for me I want to try and help as many people as I can to give back to the organisation. To say thanks for helping me and sorting me out. To be honest I’m dreading the whole thing because I’m nervous as hell and I’ve never done anything like this before in my life. I mean, I’m an ex chef and an ex squaddie, so this is totally out of my comfort zone!’
Me: ‘From one inexperienced person jumping in at the deep end to another, Recovery Connections is absolutely the place to do that, as I’m sure you already know.’
Andy: ‘Yeah, I mean, I’ve been an ambassador for about 9 months now, so I’ve got a bit of experience this way. It does help’.
Me:‘What do you want to bring to the role that’s special or unique?’
Andy: ‘Being an outsider looking in. Just because obviously I’ve never done this kind of work before, so I’m maybe looking at it from a different perspective.’
Me:‘What do you want to bring with you that you’ve got from others in the community, your past coaches etc?’
Andy: ‘Louise and Catherine were a calm and steady influence on me. Also, Barry from CGL, I want to use his influence. Because I’m an ex-soldier I want to see if we can help more ex-forces and people with military backgrounds, who tend to see the stigma of being an alcoholic or a user, to come forward to get help. The culture and the mentality of the forces is you don’t get help, you just do it yourself. I want to try and help change that stigma’
Me:‘Is there anything else you want to branch out into or incorporate?’ Andy: ‘Advertising, because at the minute we’re a bit quiet and we haven’t gotten many in. Maybe go out with the bikes and stuff, go out and shout about it in the community and see if we can get more people involved and come to get help’.
Me:‘Wrapping up now. What is your favourite resource, recovery tool, mantra. Anything to help you get, and stay sober?’
Andy: ‘S.M.A.R.T’s my favourite because that’s where I started and where I came from. I don’t think I’ve got a mantra, we could go with the old crow one ‘it can’t rain all the time’ from the movie The Crow.’
Me:‘And finally, is there anything extra you want to be included?’
Andy: ‘I’m so grateful and thankful for everyone in the charity, because everyone I’ve met has been super fabulous and amazing and been so helpful. Shawn from Stockton, when I first became an ambassador he gave me a lot of good advice, and the odd time I get to meet up with him, it’s good to have a catch up. Obviously the team at Washington, Louise, Catherine, they’ve all supported me all the way through’.
