My journey with Elevate (unwittingly) began approximately three years ago in the summer of 2017. I had just returned from Poland; a country where I had spent the last two and half year living and working in. Poland was also where I began my sobriety journey; prompted by rather calamitous final bender on Easter Sunday 2016, I sought help from a 12-step program a began to rebuild my life. I consider myself to be both extremely fortunate to have gotten help for my alcoholism when I did (aged 27), as well as being somewhat a statistical miracle,  being a Scotsman who got sober Poland- we are quite the rarity, I must tell you!

After year of sobriety, I decided to return to Scotland, and this is where I would ultimately encounter Elevate, through serious of fortuitous events. Upon returning home I found myself to be in a position which I had never been in in my entire adult life: unemployed. Initially I sought help through my local Job Centre, however I was met by a less than effusive (to put it politely) employee who blankly informed me that I would be entitled to zero form of benefits for three months, due to me having lived abroad for over a year.

Despondent and having had no previous experience with the benefits system in the UK, I did not challenge this and would spend the next four months living on a few hundred pounds (whish swiftly vanished) and the generosity of others. After two months or so of fruitless job searching I was informed by a friend mine that there was career/job type fair being put on by a number of third sector organisations that afternoon; curious and quietly desperate I decided to pop along and try my luck. The hall was filled with stalls, loud chatter, music, free food (which was particularly welcome, given my financial situation at the time) and a LOT of people.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed I bundled my way through crowds and unsure of what to expect I joined queue that was headed up by a lovely, radiant, lady named Jacqui. As I nervously waited for my turn to speak to her, I noticed her glowing smile and heard her distinct gregarious laugh, which helped quell my overwhelming feeling of wanting to (quite frankly) run away. When I finally got my chance to speak to Jacqui, she explained that she was with an organisation name Elevate and that they help people in recovery gain skills, qualifications, and confidence to get into the world of employment. Being more than somewhat demoralised, given my recent experiences, I was in dire need of such support. Jacqui helped me fill out the simple paperwork and promised to contact the following week- which she duly did. Having very little insight in what to expect, but having been lifted by our encounter, I met with Jacqui and she explained to me that there a number of opportunities that she believed I would be perfect for.

Those opportunities would eventually become realities for me; a place on the COSCA course and a paid placement (with an accompanying SVQ in Business Administration to boot) at Light on the Path- a small organisation which organised Erasmus placements for young people in the EU in Scotland. I could have never envisioned being successful for one of those opportunities, let alone both. I will not say that it was all plain sailing and there were certainly a number of personal challenges to contend with; particularly in balancing my commitments to my sobriety, working almost full time office hours and doing two part time courses. However, the Elevate team were always there to support me; at one point I was even able to put some of my course work on hold to recalibrate and then return to it when I had when I was feeling stronger. This was only possible because of the strong Person-Centred approach adopted by the Elevate team; previously under such stress I would have capitulated, but I was able to complete my courses and placement on time, thanks to their support. Within a year I was offered a full-time position with Light on The Path and directly transitioned into employment after completing my paid placement and courses. During my time at Light on the Path, the Elevate team continued to link in with me, and I was invited to take part in personal development courses, co-production meetings and general events. In this way I always felt that Elevate were there for me if I needed them and that was not simply viewed as a statistic for funding report.

After a year with Light on the Path, I was able to realise a lifelong dream of going to Canada, where spent year of working and travelling around North America; ticking off a number bucket list things as I went, including: going to New York, San Francisco, Montana, Portland and  Seattle… AND seeing Lady Gaga’s rewarding Enigma show in Las Vegas- quite the dream come true! I simply could not have had done any of these things, had it not been for the support of the Elevate team, who cheered me on from day one. After returning to Scotland at the end of 2019, I was even able to secure a job with Elevate as a Business Administrator; talk about things coming full circle, right? As I write this, I have been in role for just over six months, though I will shortly and respectfully be vacating it to pursue an HNC in Professional Writing at Glasgow City College later this year. The management at Elevate could not be more supportive of me continuing to expand my personal development horizons and returning to full-time education; so much so that I was able have fully transparent conversation with my manager regarding this significantly earlier than I would have been comfortable with in any of my previous roles.

I truly feel valued, encouraged, and supported to become the best version of myself that I can be, even when I cannot fully envision quite yet what that may look like. From the person who walked into that hall on that summer afternoon in 2017; afraid, confused, skinny (I’m certainly a few pounds heavier these days) and dejected, to where I am today; an individual who believes in himself , who is able to take risks and walk into a room with his head held high (and even make eye contact with people), I say: thank you team Elevate; I really could not have done it without you.

Jonathan, Elevator for Life.

PS: I guess you never really leave Elevate or perhaps Elevate never truly leaves you; so, I thoroughly look forward to popping in for a cup of instant coffee and a conversation of unconditional acceptance soon enough. Cheers.