Sophie's Story

In November, we held our Annual Event including our always inspiring Client Achievement Awards. One of our awards was given to a client called Sophie. Sophie grew up with offending and drug use around her and, as an adult, was in a string of abusive relationships. At a relatively young age, Sophie became addicted to crack cocaine and was a prolific offender, in and out of prison.

On her release from her final prison sentence, Sophie entered DHI’s Burlington House community detox facility. While living there, Sophie discovered that she was pregnant. With the fear of this child being taken from her at birth, she began a long and emotional struggle to prove she could care for him.

Sophie has faced homelessness, domestic violence, incarceration and poverty, but was given the support that she needed in order to become abstinent, to stop offending and to be a parent to her new born son, whom she has custody of.

That is one child who could so easily, in other circumstances, have ended up in local authority care. Care leavers constitute approximately one third of the prison population and of rough sleepers. By supporting the parent, DHI have helped to end the cycle of intergenerational poverty and social exclusion.

DHI are currently trying to buy our Burlington House facility to secure it for the future, which will give many more people the opportunity to detox in the community and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional rehab. To support our appeal, please visit localgiving.org.uk/Burlington.