Lisa’s story

“Not too long ago, my Community Link Worker was the only light in my life, now I am surrounded by light.”

It really hit me in February this year when I realised it had been a year since it all started. I am so proud of where I am now but it has been the hardest year of my life.

I went to see my GP because I felt like I had hit rock bottom, I was having suicidal thoughts and I didn’t know how to get out of the situation I was in. One of the support services I was referred to was the Community Link Worker (CLW) programme. A CLW contacted me to introduce herself, to explain her role and what support she could offer me. One of the first things she did was to help me get out of the place I was living and she got me into a homeless shelter. It wasn’t ideal but it was a stop gap and at least I was away from my ex-partner and the toxic situation I was in.

I was given a place in sheltered housing but I use a walking stick and the room was on the first floor. I was terrified living there because there were random people banging on my door, people using drugs and making noise at all times throughout the night. After a few weeks there I was allocated a council house, however, it took  four months for the council to let me move in. During that time my CLW was an incredible support. She helped me get in touch with the council to find out what was happening, she knew the questions to ask and just knowing she was in my corner, it really made a massive difference.

I was at a really low point in my life and the only person who checked on me was my CLW, she showed me she cared when no one else did and she always seems to have a plan. She separated my problems into manageable sections and made me see a way to get through this time and to deal with the things I could do something about. She helped me set necessary boundaries for people in my life and this will help me moving forward.

I remember calling my CLW when I moved into my new house and I could hear the genuine joy in her voice. My first night in my new home, I remember sitting in the silence and I finally felt like the ordeal was over and I could start living again. I am not exaggerating when I say that I don’t know if I would still be here, or where I would be if it wasn’t for my CLW. I have heard that they are cutting the programme in some areas and I think that is crazy. What is going to happen to people like me? The service is a vital lifeline and these people will slip through the gaps – I know I would have. Not too long ago, my Community Link Worker was the only light in my life, now I am surrounded by light. My cat is back living with me, and I have just rescued a second one. I am so happy to be able to share the end of my nightmare with her, I truly can’t thank her enough.

Lisa’s story is part of the latest Humans of Scotland publication – Community Links Worker Edition. The book is available to read here.

Read all Humans of Scotland stories here.

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