Former cocaine addict turns life around by helping the homeless in Worthing

Mark Jones from Worthing first started taking the class A drug casually on the weekends from the age of 21.

But two years ago he began using cocaine as a coping mechanism and was spending up to £1,200 per week on the drug.

The 41-year-old said: “Two years ago my life spiralled out of control. I was working 19-hour days at my car repair workshop, taking on too much, and I needed cocaine to get through.

 “I started using it more every week, then more every day, then multiple times a day until I could no longer function.

"I lost everything and ended up back at my mum and dad’s house at the age of 40.

Mark Jones

“For six weeks straight I continued to use cocaine everyday because everything had collapsed around me. I was a mess."

Mark, who was working as a Bosch vehicle technician, had previously lost his first pub business but had enough money at the time to start again.

He said: "I thought I could bounce back again, but this time it was different.”

But last summer, while living at his parents' house, Mark started to make a change and began to attend Cocaine Anonymous sessions for six months.

After visiting his GP surgery, Mark was referred to Adur and Worthing Councils’ communities and wellbeing team through Going Local, a group of "social prescribers" who support people and direct them to the right services.

Mark began working with an employment and skills coach, who helped him get on a peer mentoring course and work towards changing his career for a role in the charity sector.

After a successful volunteer placement within the councils’ homelessness outreach team and at Turning Tides, the biggest service provider for single homeless people in West Sussex, Mark secure a part time paid role at Turning Tides as an advice and assessment Worker.

He said: “Ben, my employment and skills coach, helped to change my life by providing me with emotional and practical support, as well as being a counsellor.

 “I’d never have gone to Cocaine Anonymous if it wasn’t for him. I used to think, ‘I don’t need to talk to people I don’t know about my life. I’m not addicted to drugs because I’ve got a business and a house’... but I was.

 "I’m not going back into the motor trade. My life is now dedicated to helping people worse off than me, and I was really lucky everything fell into place.

Mark Jones

 “Before I was focused on money and I always had to have an image. Now I’m just Mark and I do a normal job.”

Adur and Worthing Councils recently launched its help to work scheme, which supports those who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment by directing them to organisations which can help them look for work or retrain.

 Cllr Kevin Boram, executive member for health and wellbeing in Adur, said: “Mark’s incredible story is just one example of how the holistic support provided by our dedicated and passionate team can help to make such a difference to the lives of others.

"I hope it instils confidence in people in the same position Mark was in, that huge improvements to their life and wellbeing can be made.

 “We have a range of other services, including alcohol and weight loss services, along with partner agencies we work closely with, which can help people reach their full potential.”

Cllr Val Turner, executive member for health and wellbeing in Worthing, added: “Partnering with other organisations which can aid a person’s recovery and progress is crucial to the process our team follows in order to get a person, like Mark, where they need to be.

 “Whether it’s working with a substance misuse group, a charity which can offer volunteer positions, or getting someone into accommodation, our advisors are well-equipped to help people in need change their career paths and build better futures.”