Olly’s Story

I had a good childhood, but when I was four, my mum was arrested for armed robbery and later became addicted to drugs. After she was released, my dad helped her with housing, but she hid her addiction. I moved back with her, and soon, she involved me in shoplifting. She sent me to steal food from doorsteps. I knew it was wrong, but she was my mum—I wanted to help.

As a teenager, drugs became my life. At 13, I found my mum’s stash and started smoking weed. When my dad discovered she had sold our furniture, he wanted me to live with him, but I was already drawn to a different world. I was good at boxing and football, but stealing and getting high felt more exciting. At 17, I moved out, started drinking heavily, and used harder drugs like cocaine. To fund my habit, I robbed people—even drug dealers.

Eventually, I was convicted for making shotgun threats. I spent nearly 20 years in and out of prison. At my worst, I made £20,000 a month, but 80% went on drugs. Prison didn’t feel like punishment—it was just a more relaxed version of my life outside. Everyone smoked weed. It was normal.

The first time I went to Nehemiah, I wasn’t ready. I fell back into the same cycle and returned to prison. But at 40, something changed. My two sons, now teenagers, barely knew me. My friends were settling down, and I was stuck in the same life. I was placed in an enhanced prison wing with psychiatric support, weekly drug tests, and a job. I reconnected with my family. My dad and Will, a former Nehemiah resident, visited me. Will had turned his life around. Seeing that gave me hope—if he could do it, maybe I could too.

At the same time, I reached out to my mum after eight years. I had a feeling something was wrong. Soon after, I found out she had stage 4 cancer, and not long after I went to her funeral. I realised my bitterness and anger had always been directed at her—for the violence, for the life I’d ended up in. When I let that go, I felt lighter.

I wrote to Nehemiah, asking for another chance. This time, I was serious. I had to start from scratch, but I understood why. The structure helped—morning duties, group sessions, therapy, self-reflection. The balance was exactly what I needed. The family support at Nehemiah changed everything.

Dawn, our family practitioner, helped me rebuild relationships. I hadn’t spoken to my younger brothers in over a decade—now, we talk all the time. I even spent Christmas with them for the first time in 12 years. Most importantly, I’m reconnecting with my sons.

This Friday, I’m meeting them for pie and mash—it means everything. Next week, I graduate from Stage One and move into a Stage Two house. I still have a long way to go, but for the first time, I believe I have a future.

Will inspired me to change, and now, I hope I can do the same for someone else.