Jonny

Former sofa surfer Jonny Cairns managed to change his life for the better after just four months at Recycling Lives.

At just 25 years old, Jonny stumbled upon a harder time than most. He lost his job, his girlfriend and the home they shared together.

Before arriving at the Preston Recycling Lives centre in August 2009, Jonny had been losing control of his life for months, sleeping on his cousin’s sofa and drinking more often than usual. His heavy drinking eventually got him in trouble with the law. He was given a community order, requiring him to carry out unpaid work, and was he was ordered to meet with a probation officer once a week.

Jonny said: “With everything that was going on, I just stopped caring.  I got myself into trouble with the law and my life started spiralling out of control.

“I got on really well with my probation officer and confiding in her was the first step to getting my life back on track. I told her that I felt like I had hit rock bottom and that I was struggling to find somewhere to stay and find someone that could help me make things better.”

Hearing Jonny’s plea for help, his probation officer began inquiring about the opportunities on offer at Recycling Lives. The more Jonny heard about Recycling Lives the more he realised it was just what he needed.

Less than a month later, he chose to move into the Essex Street Centre after being referred by his probation officer. He had decided he was going to make the most of the education, training and work experience opportunities on offer and treat Recycling Lives as a fresh start.

Talking about his first few days at the centre, Jonny said: “When I first arrived, I was really nervous as I didn’t know anyone and because I didn’t know what to expect. Quickly I was made to feel very welcome and I got to know the other Residents who I soon realised were in a similar situation as me.

“Recycling Lives quickly got me back into the routine of getting up in the morning and ready to face a full day’s work. I have to admit I found it a little hard to adjust at first but, after about a week, things started to get easier and I was feeling more relaxed and happy within myself.”

Jonny progressed quickly through his Personal Development Plan and secured a volunteer placement on one of the Recycling Lives scrap yards for two months before he tried his hand at building personalised number plates with Recycling Lives Corporate Partner New Reg Limited.

Jonny’s artistic flare and desire to be a team player saw him quickly master the skills he needed to be successful within the company and, just four months after joining the centre, Jonny was offered a full time job and the help he needed to find a place of his own.

Jonny said: “Today I am really proud to say that I now have a full time job with New Reg Limited and a flat of my own.  My life is firmly back on track and I am doing well. Thanks to Recycling Lives, I now have a future I can look forward to.”