I have struggled for many years with reliance on alcohol to help me cope with anxiety, depression and trauma. I honestly don’t know when it became a serious problem, but it inevitably did! I’m sure COVID didn’t help or the fact that I retired from a very stressful job in the NHS – I had way too much time on my hands and a lot of it was spent in boredom and loneliness.

I finally reached out for help in August 2022 when I found Recovery Cymru. It was such a massive relief to find a community of people who totally understood me. I haven’t drunk alcohol since.

After about a year I felt ready to give back some of the support that had helped me so much. So, I began volunteering with RC and CAVDAS. I also joined VAC and have been rep for about a year!

I really enjoy the variety of things that I can get involved with. As a volunteer, I co- facilitate a women’s group and a coffee morning at CAVDAS. With VAC, I have helped with the drop-ins, outreach at several hostels, sat on interview panels, conferences and regularly attend team meetings. It’s great to feel that I can make a difference even if it’s in a small way. I’m enthusiastic about the work that we do and I’m looking forward to more opportunities in the future!