Rikki shares his experience of volunteering with different groups and projects. He talks about two projects at Future Pathways – Making Pathways Together and Voices for a Better Future. He also shares his experience of opening up at Andy’s Man Club. And about advocating for support with Stroke Association and Stroke Awareness Month.
Please note that the article contains a reference to suicide.
Voices for a Better Future
To be perfectly honest with you, and with everyone I’ve met around the desks and tables, my induction felt like putting on a new pair of slippers. Comfortable, familiar, and quietly life-changing.
After bouncing back from a dark and lonely chapter of my own choosing, I found myself, at the age of 58, under the umbrella of Future Pathways. And that felt safe. I got involved with a group called Making Pathways Together.
One of our first tasks was to design a front page of a newspaper. My headline was a photograph of my great-grandmother from 1893, dressed in her Sunday best with her children. Alongside it, a photo of me and my three brothers from 1963, also in our Sunday best, taken at the Glasgow Barras.
The contrast struck me: in 70 years, children’s lives hadn’t necessarily improved. Perhaps because the grandmother had once been the matriarch, the anchor.
When I spoke about changing the status quo, my voice cracked. Four members of the group responded, saying I couldn’t have spoken a truer word. That moment made it easy to come up with the name Voices for a Better Future.
The rest followed naturally. To celebrate our third birthday felt emotionally taxing like having a child of my own.
Andy’s Man Club
Having a stroke was a scenario I didn’t see coming. It took me three days to accept that I was entering a new chapter one that would change me inside and out, in both the waking world and the quiet corners of my mind. I took the pain and the loneliness and ran with it.
Learning to walk again felt like mimicking a Madagascar monkey but I’ve always found it easy to laugh at myself. After three months and two hospitals, I was discharged. Six weeks of shouting at the care I was receiving led me to discharge the early discharge team myself.
Then came a turning point: a visit from the wellbeing team. As she was walking out the door, she asked if I’d ever heard of Andy’s Man Club. That weekend, I read everything I could about the charity. By Monday morning, I was asking to join a Zoom meeting.
It was a wake-up call. Anger and frustration were still flowing from my pores, but what I heard from those men of all ages stopped me in my tracks. Stories of suicide, grief, loss of sons, daughters, siblings, friends. My head and heart poured out for them.
After three months, the affiliated members asked if I had any wise words for the group. I started sending feedback to Facebook, telling the outside world what I’d learned. A problem shared is a problem halved.
At the last meeting, I sat quietly and thanked them for having my back, like I had theirs.
Stroke awareness work with Stroke Association
Stroke Awareness isn’t just something I do, it’s something I live. I didn’t see the changes at first. But I feel them now. I feel like a content man.
My journey began with confusion, pain, and a stubborn refusal to be boxed in. I’ve spoken at forums, shared poetry, and offered practical advice to others navigating recovery.
I advocate for better transport, digital access, and respectful care especially for survivors in rural areas. I use humour to soften the hard edges, and storytelling to make the invisible visible.
Whether it’s helping someone find the right train platform or sharing a poem that captures the fog of fatigue, I try to make life a little easier for those who follow.
Closing Reflection
And if I were to bottle this journey, it wouldn’t be neat. It would hold:
- A bat’s left eye—watchful in the dark
- A Cyclops’ toenail—ground into powder, stubborn and strange
- A whisper of Queen—A Touch of Magic still ringing in the air
- One of Medusa’s living snakes—truth that can’t be tamed
- A mezcal gusano larva—hold the tequila, keep the grit
- Coconut water mixed into a drinkable cocktail of memory and resilience
- And a coin for the ferryman because every crossing deserves honour
People don’t want miracles but a light to guide them will do.
Find out more
Making Pathways Together
Making Pathways Together was a project that looked at how we can improve the experience of the people we support. The project was online and ran from 2020 to 2022. The people who took part created posters. These were like the front page of a magazine or a newsletter. They showed their ideas for how to improve Future Pathways.
Voices for a Better Future
Voices for a Better Future is a survivors voice group. It brings together people who experienced abuse or neglect while they were children in the Scottish care system. Members of the group want to make a difference. They want to help improve services and support.
Andy’s Man Club
Andy’s Man Club offers free peer-to-peer support groups for men across the United Kingdom. Groups are both face-to-face and online. They aim to end stigma about men’s mental health through confidential, judgement-free spaces where men can open up.
Stroke Association
The Stroke Association is Scotland’s leading stroke-specific charity providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. It provides information and support online, by phone and in the community.
We’re delighted to share our latest animation, created in collaboration with Electrify and members of Voices for a Better Future.
Electrify is a strategic, creative communications agency. With Future Pathways, Electrify worked with Voices for a Better Future to gain insights from people with lived experience of abuse in care to develop this animation. We aimed to authentically convey what Future Pathways does, who we are for and the support we offer.
Input from members of Voices for a Better Future was crucial to this work. They helped us to show the perspective of someone on a journey of support, taking us on the path from before to during and after support. As such, we highlight milestones of support, how we work with Delivery Partners, the impact support can have, and the reassurance of Future Pathways’ presence throughout the support journey.
The animation shows how each individual is at the heart of support, taking their own pathway to a positive future. We encourage anyone who has experienced abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system to reach out to Future Pathways.
Phone us for free on 0808 164 2005 or email us at registration@future-pathways.co.uk
About Voices for a Better Future
Voices for a Better Future brings together people who experienced abuse or neglect while they were children in the Scottish care system. Members of the group want to make a difference. They want to help improve services and support for others. They make sure that the views of people supported by Future Pathways are considered in decisions about the service. You can find out more about Voices for a Better Future here.
Electrify tells us more about their work
This information and guidance has been produced by the members of Voices for a Better Future. It is to help anyone who is trying to access their records from when they were in care as a child.
Voices for a Better Future is a lived experience voice group. It brings together people who experienced abuse or neglect while they were children in the Scottish care system. Members of the group want to make a difference. They want to help improve services and support for others.
The information is available as a booklet and as an Easy Read version too.
Pauline shares her experience of using her voice to improve services, support herself and help others.
Voices for a Better Future
Pauline is part of Voices for a Better Future. The members of this group have been supported by Future Pathways. They are a lived experience group.
The group offers guidance and advice to Future Pathways. They make sure that the service always considers the views of the people we support. Three of the members of Voices for a Better Future are also on the Alliance Leadership Team, which runs Future Pathways.
“I am part of Voices for a Better Future and the Alliance Leadership Team. I believe that any person should have the right to raise an issue with Future Pathways that they are concerned about. Maybe you don’t feel you can raise it or don’t know where to go. But the people on the Leadership Team do care. We want to do the right thing. I got involved because I wanted to know more, to try to help influence policy and to help to get the ball rolling.”
Volunteering
Pauline also uses her time to support children and young people who are carers. This started in lockdown.
“I got my qualifications during lockdown for working with kids who were young carers. These kids needed a rest during lockdown and I thought if I could give them a voice, I would, and I did. They were amazing kids with amazing ideas. I got thank you cards from lots of people because of the work I’ve done. I don’t always realise it myself. Sometimes if you can’t do something for yourself, doing something for someone else is enough and that can help you too.”
Connection
“I’ve moved in to disabled accommodation now. It was a horrible thing to happen but it is a lovely house and I got a lot of support from a woman from a third sector service. I was connected to her by Future Pathways. What a journey we have been on!”
“Future Pathways also supported me to get a computer and I worked with a wonderful Support Coordinator. I got my computer set up and got myself online. All these things I’ve been doing have come out since I joined with Future Pathways. Having a computer means I have that lifeline, that link – I can take part in things. I’ve been given the chance to give back a little bit and help other people. And it’ll keep going. And we can only make it better.”
Who Cares? Scotland
Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. They campaign for the rights of Care Experienced people.
“I’ve been involved with Who Cares? Scotland since I was 14 and I’m now in my 50s. When I was young, I joined and went along because you got free juice and crisps. Then it became about the people, then it became about what the people were trying to do. It does make me cry with pride when I see how well Who Cares Scotland is doing since I’d been that little kid.
“I know things have improved since my generation and things are different now. But there is still stigma, problems, fragmentation, the feeling of not fitting in and lack of connection. It’s important to keep improving services for care experienced people – that is my view and in my heart of hearts, and what keeps me ticking along.”
Applying to Scotland’s Redress Scheme
“I gave it a lot of consideration. It wasn’t about the money. It was about feeling validated,
listened to, heard. Yes, we are ‘victims’ – I know a lot of people don’t like that word. But when I was that child, I was a victim. Now I might be called a ‘survivor’. It was very difficult to apply to
redress. And a lot of people don’t know that they are entitled to it, or they know but don’t want to interact. When you’ve been conditioned not to have a voice, it’s difficult to think you do.”
Writing
“During the redress process, I wrote a book for myself which was a therapeutic journey. And thanks to Future Pathways, it can now go to print. I love my writing. I did a peer-to-peer writing group and ended up facilitating it for three months. I write my way out of trouble and that’s how I’ve always done it. The thing about writing – the beauty of it – is it can be anything you want it to be. It allows you the space to think. You can think about what you’ve written and why you’re writing it.”
The recovery journey
“It’s important to know that recovery can be slow, and happens only when you’re ready and when you want to engage. Getting support means you can get the tools to help you. But it’s up to you to make good use of them. Everyone has a toolbox and needs to keep adding to it. Throughout this, remember your achievements. And finally, what else has helped me is music. I would suggest listening to ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus, ‘This Is Me’ by Keala Settle and ‘Ten’ by Nathan Dawe.”
If you are applying to the Scottish Government’s Redress Scheme, or if you are thinking about applying, the Redress Support Service is there for you. The service offers support to people on their redress journey. Find out more at www.redress-support.scot
Future Pathways’ lived experience voice group is a safe space where members can offer guidance and advice to the Alliance Leadership Team and influence aspects of the design and delivery of Future Pathways. Find out more about the group and their work at www.future-pathways.co.uk/who-we-are/voices-for-a-better-future
Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Their strategic vision is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland. At the heart of their work are the rights of Care Experienced people and the power their voices have to bring about change. Find out more at: www.whocaresscotland.org
Joyce creates a range of wonderful pieces. This includes artwork,
embroidery, knitting and spinning. Check out the collection of her fantastic
creations below.
Painting and embroidery
“I was walking through Balquhidder Braes one day and came into a clearing. I realised I had stumbled across Oberon’s Garden.”
“Pastels on brown paper. My interpretation of The Poker Player by Paul Gauguin. The first piece I did when I started at Dundee college in 1996.
With painting, I always wanted to learn but father wouldn’t allow it as ‘you can’t make a living with a paintbrush’. I went to college then uni as a mature student/single mum and learned.”
Bags and purses
Joyce also makes gowns for angel babies. Angel babies are babies sadly lost due to miscarriage or as an infant.
“I was asked by a mum of two sets of premature twins if I could make clothes for the preemie babies at Ninewells hospital. She later asked if I could make the little gowns for angel babies. I consider it a great privilege to be able to do this and Future Pathways helped me to buy a new sewing machine for this. I’m now looking for other hospitals who may need the gowns. I lost a baby many years ago and never came to terms with it. However, through doing this, I have finally found peace.”
Spinning
“Spinning is my therapy. I have a few spinning wheels but the Ashford Traveller is my favourite. I spin anything from recycled plastic bottles to nettles to rose stem fibre but have a passion for rare, exotic fibres.”
Above: Norwegian fleece that Joyce has dyed herself
Above: yellow and blue is rambouillet mix (rambouillet is a type pf sheep), the brown fibre is qiviut (musk ox) which is a beautiful soft fibre, and vicuna is a very expensive fibre.
We are delighted to share the news that Voices for a Better Future has now been working together for two years.
The group was set up 25 May 2022 and since then, they have gone from strength to strength. They have met online and in-person to work on some interesting and inspirational projects.
Voices for a Better Future is a lived experience voice group. The group is made up of people who have accessed support from Future Pathways. It is a safe space where people can draw on their lived experience to offer guidance to the Leadership Team at Future Pathways.
Over the past two years, the group have taken part in many projects.
- They have given updates via the Future Pathways newsletter to share their work with other people supported by Future Pathways.
- They worked with Iriss and Scottish Recovery Network on a project about co-designing peer support.
- Some members of the group are working with the Procurator Fiscal’s office. They aim to improve processes for people who take part in the National Abuse Inquiry or who are involved in court cases against perpetrators.
- Two members of the group have taken up roles as Alliance Leadership Team representatives.
- The group is working on record search guidance. They want to help people who are trying to find records from their time in care. The group is using their own personal experience to help others.
To mark their two year anniversary as a group, we asked members to share their feelings about the group:
“One thing we have in common is when one of the group is missing we all make sure that person is okay.”
“I myself want one thing – to make sure that sure that the work we are doing will help and benefit people from past, present and future.”
“I would like to use a quote from Helen Keller who said: ‘Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much.’ This sums up Voices for a Better Future group for me.”
Future updates around current projects the group are working on will be shared via Future Pathways’ newsletter and their dedicated space on the website. You can view this here.
There are currently 13 active members in the group. Membership of the group changes each year to give new people the chance to take part. If you are interested in joining, you can:
- Let your Support Coordinator know if you are interested
- Email Future Pathways at engagement@future-pathways.co.uk
As the group is quite small, it may not always be possible for everyone to join at the same time.
Yvonne shares her pottery creations with us.
“I recently participated in my first pottery course. I found it to be very therapeutic and being able to express my creativity via pottery has proven, as a beginner, that I have a natural flare for it. I thought I would share my work with you. Here are pictures of my creations, one of which is a Future Pathways mug.”
Rikki heard about Future Pathways in 2017, after contributing to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. He started working with a Support Coordinator called Lara.
Rikki had been struggling with his mental health and particularly with flashbacks. Lara put Rikki in contact with the Anchor, the Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service. Through the Anchor, Rikki accessed EMDR therapy. This is a type of therapy which can help people process trauma. Rikki found that this experience helped him to look at past experiences from his present perspective, as an adult. Together Rikki and Lara also explored how complimentary therapies, such as reiki and mindfulness techniques, could benefit his mental health. This helped Rikki find useful approaches to cope with flashbacks.
“I used to see one wee thing on the TV and I was back there in my mind. Now I have the techniques so that the flashbacks don’t stay with me.”
Volunteering has always been important to Rikki. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rikki volunteered to meet and greet people at his local hospital. After accessing support from Future Pathways, Rikki wanted to do something to support Future Pathways.
“You looked after me. You have got me to this stage. Now I want to give something back. I want to share what Future Pathways has done for me.”
Lara encouraged Rikki to get involved with Making Pathways Together. Through this project, people who have accessed support from Future Pathways gave us feedback to help us improve the service. Rikki also got involved in our survivors’ voice group, Voices for a Better Future. This group brings together people who are registered with Future Pathways with the aim of improving services for other survivors.
Currently, Rikki and other group members are working with Future Pathways to develop peer support within our service. Although at first Rikki felt hesitant to get involved in the group, being part of Voices for a Better Future has helped him feel more confident and helped Rikki move past feelings of shame and embarrassment that have affected his past relationships.
“It has given me a lot of confidence. My life experiences are what I bring to the table.”
Being part of this group has also helped him develop relationships with people who also want to make a positive change.
“We became closer as a group. The respect is there. […] It is all about helping others […] We laugh together. Sometimes there’s a bit of emotion. People want to be heard. I can’t advise but I can sit there and listen.”
Overall, being involved with Voices for a Better Future has been a very fulfilling experience for Rikki.