Doorway - Our Guests

Lee is Chippenham born and bred.

"Chippenham is no different to anywhere else" he says. "Drugs are easy to get into. But not so easy to get out of."

One of the most depressing aspects of stories about young lives being ruined by substance abuse is that they are so common nowadays, they have become a matter of course.

Many people find it hard to understand how others become entangled in the drug culture, and even harder to comprehend the soul destroying impact drugs have on every aspect of life. "Drugs become the only thing that matters" Lee explains. "You can't even plan forward more than a day or two. If someone asks you to meet them on Monday, you say yes but showing up depends on whether you're sorted for drugs."

Lee became homeless, rarely sleeping under the same roof for two consecutive nights. Life ceased to have any real meaning to him. Day to day existence was his only motivation.

Then friends told him about The Salvation Army. he didn't know where the building was, and certainly knew nothing about Doorway.

Little over a year later, he got a permanent home, began developing his musical skills and became entirely drug-free.

Although Lee believed life to have no meaning, he met a Doorway volunteer who had no doubts about his own role in understanding people. "Life only makes sense if you give back. If you help others who are having a hard time your living is not in vain - society is people and people need people" says volunteer Albert, who has become Lee's teacher, supporter and true friend.

Lee

Albert & Lee

"The Lee I know now is not the Lee I first met. That Lee seemed confused. He used to come into the hall and get behind the drumkit, really expressing his anger - no rhythm, just thump, thump! But look at him now!"

Lee's transformation began slowly but developed. "I still come to Doorway and I probably always will" he says. "The people who work here, people like Albert who volunteer, don't do it for any reason other than they want to help homeless people. It was the first time that I'd ever found people who believed in me. They don't tell you what to do, unless you ask for advice. They don't judge you. If somebody slips back, like on drugs, they just say 'OK, let's start again'."

Albert agrees with Lee's assessment of the Doorway regime. "The guests here, they have a voice" he says. "There's no pressure on them. They can just be. But if they want to do something constructive, like Lee did with his music, it's all here for them."

One of Albert's key roles within Doorway is as a music teacher, guitar being his specialism. Lee had always been interested in music. "I had a guitar, but I couldn't play it" he says. "Now I have weekly sessions learning guitar and drums, thanks to Albert."

When Lee first came to Doorway he was homeless and had a strong drug dependency. Ask him today if he believes in his future and he responds with an urgent, nodded, "Oh yeah."

Update on Lee - October 2006:- Lee has obtained a tenancy, is drug free and is studying music at Wiltshire College, Chippenham!