Mick's story
A few months after losing both of his parents to cancer, 57 year old Mick suffered a life threatening head injury. The injury affected both his balance and short-term memory: 'When I was working I would measure something, turn around and forget what I had measured. I couldn't remember what I was doing from one minute to the next - that's no good for a builder'
With no-one to turn to for support, Mick lost both his family home and construction business in a matter of months. He spent three years sleeping rough in churchyards and garden sheds before being found by St Mungo's outreach team.
Mick was immediately taken to our Cedars Road hostel. He became interested in our award winning gardening project, Putting Down Roots (PDR) when he saw volunteers working on the hostel garden. His hostel key worker put him in touch with the PDR co-ordinator in his area and he started volunteering straight away.
Not knowing anyone when he started, Mick quickly made friends after he was welcomed by the team. He now volunteers up to four days a week, working on local community projects or St Mungo's hostel gardens: 'I like watering the plants and vegetables in the hostel greenhouse the best. I look after the tomatoes, poppies and strawberries. I also get rid of weeds.
Since coming to the hostel I have put a bit of weight on. It was a bit of a shock to the system to start having regular meals again. The gardening is good exercise, keeps me busy and helps me to get out and meet people. I feel like I can do something productive again despite my memory.'
Mick is particularly proud of his PDR t shirt and work boots that we gave to him: 'St Mungo's looks out for me. My key worker even took me to the dentist and I had my teeth sorted. I've got a new set of false ones now. We went together on the bus so that I can remember the way.'
Putting Down Roots has had a fantastic impact on Mick's life. The gardening has kept him busy and given him a new lease of life.
In the safety of the hostel we are continuing to work on his recovery - preparing Mick for living alone and ensuring that he has appropriate support and accommodation to move on to.
St Mungo's are giving Mick the help that he so desperately needed. Without our support, he would have remained isolated, alone and confused. Mick himself is convinced that 'Without St Mungo's I would still be sleeping in doorways.'