Musician Pete has successfully got a job at Red Rose Recovery with the help of Chris and Steps to Employment (STE).
Before Pete needed help from Chris however, he was a guitarist touring the globe. He visited “places like the U.S., Japan, Canada and Europe”, using his talent to help people with the same problems as him.
Whilst Pete was having amazing success playing music, his addiction worsened. It got to the point where he couldn’t deal with it anymore, especially alone and abroad, so he moved back up North.
Following advice from a friend, Pete decided to contact STE – getting in contact with Chris immediately. He says it was “incredibly easy” getting an appointment and that he “gained a lot of confidence working with Chris”.
They got to know each other, and Chris was “really understanding regarding my situation”, Pete says – even going “above and beyond” to calculate benefits to secure Pete the best possible position.
Due to his hard work and support, he managed to get interviews within a month of working with Chris and ended up becoming a support worker at Red Rose Recovery.
With his new position, Pete is able to change a tough life experience he had to now mean something positive, making some bad memories easier to cope with.
He explains: “It’s incredibly satisfying to help people in a positive way, especially when the experience I had felt so negative at the time.”
One of the most inspiring and heartwarming aspects of Pete’s story is that despite all his successes travelling around the world and already aiding so many people with music, he proudly states that helping residents at Red Rose is “one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”
He explains that even if somebody’s experiences are entirely different to his own, they can still reach a common ground of trying to improve their situation and helping each other.
If you’d like the help of Chris and Steps to Employment, please contact skills@calico.org.uk
