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Jason's Story
I remember coming to my interview and walking through Friends Firsts doors thinking ‘this isn’t a bad place’, it actually felt quite relaxed and peaceful. Rob explained all about Friends First and how they wanted to help people.
I think if I remember correctly I moved in the next day as I had no were to live at the time, which I was very pleased about as trying to live out of a car is not much fun. Some of the simply things in life become the hardiest things, like washing, so to get a bed and be able to wash was just so good, it’s hard to explain.
I must admit it was a bit daunting at first because I didn’t know where my life was going and what I was going to be doing but that soon changed once I got into the routine of things and helping out around the house.
There are certain things that are advisable to do like cooking, cleaning, seeing your key worker and paying the bills, which in comparison to living on your own are really cheap and good value.
One of the things I really did enjoy was cooking and breaking bread round the table, it was always such a great pleasure to sit down and eat with everyone including the staff, there was always good food. For those that can’t cook very well there is a chance to do some cooking with Pat on a Thursday which I would definitely recommend because Pats cooking is phenomenal - proper good home cooking!
I think anyone who lives at Friends First and does not take advantage of the house and use it to there advantage is perhaps a bit silly because there is so much on offer there to help you change your life. There is an extremely good bunch of staff and volunteers that are willing and wanting to help.
One thing I wasn’t expecting though was for my stay there to be so short, but I think the staff saw the potential in me as I knuckled down and got on with things. I was actually quite amazed when Tim found this property (my new flat) through Brighton Housing Trust, as with no money for a deposit I wasn’t expecting much although I wanted something decent. So I was very pleased to be able to snap this property up quite quick and moved in just over a week later. The move has turned out better than I could have expected.
At first it was hard leaving Friends First as I had some good times there playing scrabble with Mags, chatting with Greg while on the computer and generally irritating young Kim - in a good way. Then you had the staff that you could always turn to for help and a chat.
My stay at Friends First was brilliant, what the staff, volunteers and residents offered me was amazing, I really couldn’t have asked for more or anything different.
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"My stay at Friends First was brilliant, what the staff, volunteers and residents offered me was amazing, I really couldn’t have asked for more or anything different."
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