Hi, my name is Terry and I am in recovery from multiple complex needs. In the past, I have suffered from periods of mental health, homelessness, offending and have been in a constant fight with addiction for over 27 years.
As a young person I was involved with petty crime and moved up the ladder of criminality until I was selling drugs as well as other organised crime at a national level. The last place I wanted to be was beside an officer of the law walking about a town centre. I would have called myself a few choice names in the past for this act.
I have spent too many years in prison due to my actions. I don’t condone any of my actions but they have given me the platform on which I can use my lived experience to help others today at a regional and national level through the Fulfilling Lives programme
It was at a Fulfilling Lives breakfast event to show what the programme was doing within Newcastle and Gateshead that I first got talking to Inspector Michael Robson from Gateshead central police station. I asked if it was possible for me to go walk about the town centre and speak to the people on the streets who are still entrenched in street drinking and drug taking with the beat officers who deal with these people on a daily basis.
I thank the Inspector as he made it possible for me to go across and tell my story to a number of his officers, who were on shift change at the time. I got about 30 minutes to say what I had to say as well as to explain to them what I was trying to do as part of a question and answer session.
As someone who now looks to help break the stigma of THEM and US culture between the people on the street and the officers dealing with them. I know that those people will more likely listen to someone who they have seen walk in their shoes in the past.
Since meeting Inspector Robson, I have been out with a number of officers on a regular basis. The first officer who I went out with was PC John Bowman as well as other officers. On these walks, I have had the pleasure to speak to regular street drinkers whom are a fascinating set of individuals who are also very lively and intelligent but whose lives are blighted by addiction. I have spoken to these individuals and found out that some like to do a bit exercise but don’t have the means to do anything proactive. A number of them have also expressed an interest in fishing and so we are looking at taking them on a few small fishing day trips.
I was also donated 10 bicycles by Northumbria police force which I thank you for. The use of the donation is for to reduce anti-social behaviour and build community spirit. These bikes were in a state of disrepair and at present are being made safe so that we can take them out for the public to use. With the money which is left we will look at getting a fishing trip sorted as soon as possible.
I look forward to going out every Wednesday and talking to those we have the pleasure to stumble upon in whatever corner of the town centre that they are trying to hide in. They know now that as long as they respect the space of the officer and myself and put their drink away they get to keep it. I thank the officers for taking this approach so as we can try and build those relationships up. I would like to take this opportunity to also thank PC Nicola Smith for your work, compassion and empathy when we found one of those we talk to weekly and a client of the fulfilling lives programme in a state of unconsciousness. We need more officers like you.
Again a massive thanks to Inspector Michael Robson for making this happen as well as all the other support you have offered concerning my other commitments. Please pass on my thanks to all your staff, all in all you have a great team working under you keep up the great work, keeping our communities safe.
On a personal level I feel I have grown massively out of these experiences. If it was said to me not a year ago that I would be walking about a town centre with a police officer on a Wednesday afternoon, I would have more or less laughed in your face and walked off but because of my recovery and the Fulfilling Lives programme that is not the case and it’s something I’m extremely proud of today.
GUYS STAY SAFE, PROTECT EACH OTHER AND I’LL SEE YA ALL SOON…
Cheers, Terry Nelson.
