Alistair’s Story *

Giving Something Back

“I was a successful businessman who traveled all over the world. I had everything, a nice house, car and lifestyle that went with it. Then I lost the business and ended up homeless in Bir

mingham. I became depressed, as everything had been taken away from me. I went missing, and at one point, considered suicide but didn’t go through with it because my daughter would not have known what had happened to me

.

“I had never heard of Start when I was referred to it. I had done nothing I considered artistic before, but I enrolled for Mosaics and loved it straightaway.

“I went on to do Ceramics and this helped me to progress to College for a BTEC qualification in Design and Ceramics. Initially Start was a way of filling the day but it developed into much more. Start is a happy place and it makes you feel like coming back. I enjoyed the sessions very much and eventually these have led into my being a volunteer at Start. I also run workshops in Mosaics and Ceramics elsewhere.

“Becoming unwell has opened up new opportunities to me. I wish I’d done this sort of thing 40 years ago.

* Not person’s real name“The experience is very rewarding. It is a way of giving something back.”

Mark Carlos

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *