Professional photographer and former DHI client has teamed up with DHI, to share in words and images, the impact the charity has and continues to have on the lives of many people.
Trevor features in the exhibition. Trevor was housed in Bristol after multiple prison sentences. DHI helped him to address his crack and heroin addictions. He is now using his lived experience and DHI peer training to help others to recover. Trevor says, "DHI has helped me see a way to a different life and make healthy friendships. I have learned to like myself."
Laura, who also features in the exhibition, was addicted to crack, heroin, and spice. Her addiction led to a tragic explosion in her home, landing her in prison.
When she was released she was still dependent on substances, but DHI’s criminal justice team, helped her to get her life back on track. Laura says, "DHI showed me that I didn't have to hide what I had been through. They made me feel welcome and part of something, which greatly helped in my recovery."
Having completed a Level 2 qualification in Peer Mentoring, Counselling and Mental Health, Laura is now a Peer Mentor with DHI, running SMART groups for others in DHI’s criminal justice service . Laura says “I'm continuing my development with passion and hope to secure a role in the field of addiction in the future.”
DHI has worked in Bristol since 2013 providing criminal justice, housing and drug and alcohol treatment services.
DHI’s criminal justice team carry out prison visits, collect prison leavers, arrange accommodation and food, organise prescriptions for those coming off substances, help them to register with a GP and dentist, encourage them to join relevant rehabilitation groups and support with meeting probation conditions. DHI provides Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs) as an alternative to a custodial sentence, and is the lead organisation in Bristol supporting people leaving prison with a drug or alcohol treatment need.
DHI operates Home Turf Lettings in Bristol, a not-for-profit agency specialising in letting private rented accommodation to vulnerable tenants on low incomes. In Bristol, HTL runs in partnership with Bristol City Council and social impact property fund manager, Resonance.
Having a safe, secure home and support from DHI staff helps tenants to address other challenges linked to their housing need, resulting in secondary benefits such as reductions in substance use and offending, improvements in health and wellbeing, and greater engagement in education, training and employment.
A touring exhibition will visit the regions in which DHI operates, presenting stories and images of people who have turned their lives around with the help of DHI since 1999. The portraits will illustrate how DHI helped to support people to make long term changes, and the ways in which this subsequently affected the course of their lives. The exhibition will culminate in ’Turning Lives Around: 25 Years of DHI’, an event celebrating DHI’s impact, recognising special achievements this year and rising to the challenges of the future.
Rosie Phillips, CEO, says “We think that the exhibition will resonate with people - everyone is vulnerable at some point in their lives and can become isolated or excluded. Pressures on people are now greater than ever with the cost of living pressures, funding cuts, and social and political division. We hope that local people will visit the exhibition and learn about the work we do, the people we support and why our services have never been needed more.”
She went on to say “When I meet people sometimes it can be quite overwhelming how much they feel DHI has had an impact in their lives or the life of their loved ones. I love seeing people gain their sense of place in the world, and get their self-esteem back”.
Four portraits will be on display in Bristol from 14th – 18th October, at the Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol BS10 5PY.
Turning Lives Around: 25 Years of DHI will take place at Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath on 7th November, from 4.30-7pm.
DHI is grateful to Marlin Communications for funding towards this project.
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