David first heard about Future Pathways from a friend. To begin with, David was not sure he wanted to access support because he did not want to bring anything up from his past, and he had been dealing with the impact of his past experiences without support for a long time. David sometimes felt that he did not deserve the support as much as other people. But Steven, his Support Coordinator, reassured him that Future Pathways was for him too.
When David started working with Future Pathways, Steven helped him access counselling. Even though David had friends he could speak to, he had never spoken about some of the abuse he had been through.
“Talking to the counsellor opened everything up. We spoke for ages. I talked about the abuse and how I was feeling for the first time.”
This helped David to talk about the abuse he went through to other people as well. This meant he could give his statement to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. And having a counsellor to talk to helped David through the process of applying to the Redress Scheme.
“Counselling didn’t make a deeper difference to how I feel inside, but now I can talk about it. I could give my statement to the Inquiry and talk about the abuse.”
David feels he has learned more about himself and how his past impacts him with Future Pathways’ support.
“The biggest difference is that I know more about myself now. I know more about how things affect me. The counsellor explained that I go into fight or flight mode, and this might be why I find some situations, like being in groups of people difficult. So, I have found different ways of coping, like going out on my bike with the dog.”
David loves to get out into the countryside with his dog, so Future Pathways supported David to purchase a mountain bike. This meant he could get out into the hills with his dog for hours at time. Future Pathways helped David continue to get out on the bike after he went through a difficult time. David became unwell and this affected his lungs. Then his bicycle was stolen in a burglary. Future Pathways supported David to buy an e-bike so that he could continue getting out with his dog.
“It has made the world of difference.”
Vicky first heard about Future Pathways from Wellbeing Scotland, where she has accessed support since 2016. Vicky has been working with a Support Coordinator called Elaine since the beginning of her journey with Future Pathways.
It took time to build up trust with Future Pathways because Vicky had many experiences of being let down by services in the past.
“It took about six months for me to start trusting that Future Pathways would do what they said they would do. I was used to feeling dismissed by services, but I started to see that things were actually happening. A social work assessment was put in place. I could see that it wasn’t just words.”
Since accessing support at Future Pathways, Vicky has faced many challenges in her life. She has had issues with damp in her home, and she has been seeking justice through the court system. This has been a long, difficult process. She has also faced many physical and mental health challenges.
These experiences took a toll on Vicky, and she felt she wasn’t accessing the support she needed from other services. Through it all, Vicky feels that Future Pathways and Wellbeing Scotland together have encouraged her to keep going.
“I really mean it. I wouldn’t be alive today without Future Pathways and Wellbeing Scotland. They [Future Pathways and Wellbeing Scotland] believed in me and that helped me believe in myself.”
With Elaine’s help, social work support was put in place for Vicky. This led to a positive change in Vicky’s housing situation. Future Pathways helped with purchasing furniture and other items so Vicky could settle into her new accommodation.
“Getting social work in place was so valuable to me. Before, I was trapped in a damp house, and I was made homeless. I had to live in my car during the Covid-19 pandemic to protect myself from further damage to my health that the mould was inflicting on me. And when I moved, I had nothing until Future Pathways helped.”
Even though Elaine was off when Vicky moved, Future Pathways acted quickly and made sure Vicky’s needs were met.
“My needs were treated like they were important.”
Previously, Vicky had tried to access social work support, but it had not worked out. Vicky believes that having Elaine there to advocate for her helped Vicky access the right support for her.
“I believe she advocated for me and that is what made the difference, having an organisation behind me. Before, I felt like services didn’t listen to me, but when Future Pathways got involved, there was a multi-agency meeting about my support.”
Vicky feels that accessing the right support for her has helped her improve both her physical and mental health, now having a care package in place.
“Previously I felt like I couldn’t get anywhere when I was struggling with my mental health. I couldn’t get the support I needed from crisis services. I was triggered by a lot of things, and I felt I deserved the hard things that were happening. But now, I am definitely in a better place.”
Vicky also accessed one-to-one drama tuition to help build confidence and self-esteem. This has helped Vicky to recognise her strengths, grow in confidence, and tap into the support around her when she needs.
“Now I challenge things myself more. For example, if I have housing issues, I stand up for myself, knowing I have back up from Future Pathways and Wellbeing Scotland. I used to let things get to breaking point. Now I ask for support when I need it because I have built up a lot of trust and support around me.”
The support has made a big difference to Vicky’s mental health and hope for the future.
“I have gone from feeling worthless all my life and feeling suicidal every other week to now having the proper support of Future Pathways and Wellbeing Scotland. I now have more positivity.”
Vicky feels strongly that anyone who experienced in-care abuse in Scotland should be able to access the support that she has had. To share more about how support has made a difference to her, Vicky helped create a video called “Finding Vicky” all about her experiences.
“Because of support, I have been able to survive. Not only have I survived, having the counselling support from Wellbeing Scotland and support from Future Pathways, and with the organisations and the people delivering these services believing in me, it has given me the strength and feeling of worth that has helped me deal with the biggest battle of my life, fighting cancer. I know I would not have done this if I still had those feelings of worthlessness. I want others to access that support too.”
Kirsty is really interested in trying different things that can benefit health and wellbeing. Here, she shares some examples of the things she has tried during her recovery journey.
Coming from a traumatic childhood, I did what most people done and learned to live with it, not fix it. Over the years, you don’t even recognise the triggers of trauma – you think the responses to triggers are yours.
My adult life seen me in many situations that seemed bad pot luck, until I couldn’t cope anymore. I turned to private counselling, and in doing so, was introduced to Future Pathways to fund it. I remained in counselling for 4 years, which worked to let me dig deeper within myself, by talking therapy, but didn’t actually allow me to heal in any real way.
During this process, always being a bit of a hippy, I started meditation, something I found extremely difficult as my panic attacks resulted in me being unable to focus on my breathing to get into a meditative state. It would send me into a panic.
I persevered and eventually was able to use meditation as a way to calm my mind.
This lead to using binaural beats and hemi sync meditations. These methods sync both hemispheres of the brain and take you to deeper levels of meditation. This led me into digging further into the science behind frequencies and vibrations. I like to understand the science behind why these methods were working.
And, seeing fast results, these methods allowed me to meditate and open myself up to the traumas in a calm, non-invasive way. Almost not even knowing that this is what I was doing. I was able to pick away at traumas without even really feeling them. Able to look at them without emotional attachment. Healing myself bit by bit without having to face the enormity of it.
I began to really get to know who I was behind all my usual barriers.
And if I can give something back, this is what I want to give back – a way for people to heal without have to return time and time again to professionals. For people to know that they can do this themselves, and give people the experience of this and the tools to walk away after a couple of sessions equipped with the knowledge of how to self-heal.
I feel that until you face your trauma and your triggers of trauma, that you cannot truly heal. The best and safest way to do this is through meditation, using sound frequencies and vibrations. It helps the mind focus , stay calm and heal, healing DNA, rewiring the brain, just for starters.
My plan is to start my own business using instruments that create sound waves and vibrations that resonate with the mind and body.
I want to take people through meditations safely, showing them every step of the way how and why to do this. Ensuring that they don’t need more than a couple of treatments maximum so they can take it away, practice it and find what works best for them and show others how to heal themselves.
My Support Coordinator has been an absolute god send, always there, always cheerleading my corner, and always highlighting my abilities. I cannot thank her enough for the encouragement this woman has shown me.
Alongside my Support Coordinator, I was given Graham from Gro-Wiser. He is a financial coach and has been a god send. Not just immense help with finances but also encouraging and cheerleading my ambitions.
Future Pathways has been more than I could have ever imagined they would be.
They have helped with so much, from funding lots of classes that will help me to fulfil my ambition, to being my biggest supporters. And I appreciate every minute I have had with them.
One day you will get there, and it will be yourself who gets you there. I encourage anyone experiencing difficulties coping in life to try and meditate. Even baby steps are still steps. I can guarantee you will find your peace. You will learn to love yourself and not care what the rest of the world thinks of you, because only your opinion will matter.
You live in your shoes so give yourself a better fitting shoe. You deserve it.
When Anne registered with Future Pathways, she felt like she had been on a rollercoaster for years. After leaving care, Anne experienced homelessness and felt she lacked the skills she needed. Anne worked for her local authority which would trigger flashbacks. Anne had also tried to access her care records, which was a painful experience. These experiences negatively affected Anne’s mental health.
Anne heard about Future Pathways through the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. Since then, Anne has worked with her Support Coordinators to access the right support for her.
“I have had two amazing Support Coordinators who went all out in helping me. Future Pathways helped me in many ways. I believe they saved my life in many ways.”
Future Pathways supported Anne with some practical needs. For example, Anne accessed the Discretionary Fund to purchase a laptop. Anne was nervous about using the laptop since she has dyslexia. But having a laptop helped Anne build up her confidence and digital skills.
Future Pathways also helped Anne access mental health support. When she started working with Future Pathways, Anne was going through a very difficult time. Anne accessed counselling through one of Future Pathways’ Delivery Partners.
“I needed the space to express how I was feeling about things. I believe the counselling I received through Future Pathways helped me survive a very difficult time. The counsellor was there for me at just the right time.”
Taking the time to tell her story in counselling helped Anne in her recovery. Having support from her Support Coordinator during the Inquiry also helped her manage.
“Anytime I phoned, they have been there for me. My Support Coordinator was amazing. She took me through everything, gave me good advice.”
With Future Pathways’ support, Anne was able to address her home environment. At the time, Anne was dealing with harassment from neighbours, and she did not feel safe where she lived. Because of these challenges, Anne felt isolated. Future Pathways purchased a membership at a cinema, to help Anne enjoy time away from the house.
“The cinema membership encouraged me to leave the flat and venture into town. When the cinema was quiet, I felt safe, like I didn’t need to scan the place. Then, I started going to other places in the city like the Gallery of Modern Art.”
With Future Pathways’ support, Anne was able to move to a new area, close to her family. Future Pathways also helped Anne buy household items to settle into her new home.
“I thought things could never be resolved before I moved. But I couldn’t have asked for better housing. Here, I have my own front door. I don’t have any stress about opening my door anymore.”
Now, Anne wants to make difference to others through the Voices for a Better Future group. Being a member of Voices for a Better Future has given Anne insight that not everyone has positive experiences with Future Pathways. Anne feels there might be some things Future Pathways could do to improve. For example, following up with people after about their experiences working with our Delivery Partners, and reducing the need to work with different Support Coordinators.
“It’s difficult because everyone is different. Maybe Future Pathways could look into what is working for people and what isn’t.”
Overall, Anne feels working with Future Pathways made a positive difference in her life.
“Really in every way, Future Pathways have had a very big impact in my life.”
Pat has been working with us for about a year and a half. He wanted to share his experience of working with Future Pathways.
How long have you been working with Future Pathways?
About a year and a half now.
How did you find out about us?
It was a friend. He got me to go to Wellbeing Scotland, and they told me about Future Pathways.
How has Future Pathways helped you?
Well, I didn’t really have much self-confidence and stuff. My Support Coordinator helped me to learn to ask for help. It’s a thing I found hard before, because of the way I’ve been brought up in life: basically, help always cost me something.
How did you manage to make that change?
One of the first things my Support Coordinator did is she got me a laptop: it’s a type of thing I would never spend money on just for me. She got me to understand that I’ve got to look out for me as well. And in the long run, that will help everybody else.
I found it great just sitting on the laptop. I like to learn, but I never had the confidence to learn and I was never encouraged. A website about photography came up. Years and years ago, I had a small camera and I loved it. I would just go out and walk and take photos.
So Future Pathways helped me get a camera, which helped me. It gave me a reason to get out there and do something just for me, basically.
How is life different now?
It’s definitely different. See the name Future Pathways? It’s like before, my pathway was always leading around about and coming back again, but they helped me make a different pathway, which has opened up the inner belief in me. I can do this, I can take photographs, I can do whatever.
I’m going to start a writing course in a couple of weeks, and that’s something I would never have even considered. I’ll be nervous! I’ll be uptight still, but I’ve got the belief to try it.
It’s great that you’ve got more self-confidence and you believe in yourself…
A while ago, my boy got me and my partner a Christmas present: a flight to Dublin. I never used it, because I didn’t have the confidence. But Future Pathways helped me, so I went for it, me and my partner. It’s the first time that we’ve been on a plane. I’m over 50 years old, and it was the first time I was on an aeroplane, the first time I’d looked at the clouds from the other side.
It was only a short flight, but it’s something I would have never attempted, never thought about. But now I know I can do this. It’s the simple things in life, that other people take for granted… they’re the most important things for me.
