‘Denzel’ – not his real name – first heard about A Better Tomorrow in 2019, whilst he was serving yet another lengthy prison sentence. While he was in prison he began to have conversations with another inmate about his time spent in rehabilitation programmes across the country.
From there he spoke to a Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare (Carat) worker about his interest in going to a rehabilitation centre after his sentence was over. A Better Tomorrow was one of the names mentioned and the next thing he knew Martin and Scott of A Better Tomorrow paid him a visit. He admits that he didn’t say much, if anything, during that visit. Martin and Scott spoke about A Better Tomorrow and what it could offer and what would be expected from him. He was asked to write a letter to A Better Tomorrow, as that would allow him to express himself more. This led to another visit from Scott, who told him he had been accepted into A Better Tomorrow.
When ‘Denzel’ first came to A Better Tomorrow, it wasn’t what he expected. He thought that all clients would be living in some sort of centre. To his surprise, the clients shared a house with up to 4 people in each. He admits that it was a little nerve-racking – new town, new people, new regime and new expectations from people that he didn’t know.
‘Denzel’ realised that A Better Tomorrow was like a bubble consisting of people from different walks of life, all with similar stories about addiction. Because of the similarities, people who didn’t know him were willing to help and offer suggestions to support a stranger.
His first thought was to finish his licence and then head back to his hometown, But, after a few weeks of self-reflection, he made a conscious decision to stay for the permitted two years.
Being in A Better Tomorrow took ‘Denzel’ out of his comfort zone. It took him away from people, places and situations that would lead him to make wrong choices.
“For me, being in A Better Tomorrow allowed me to press the reset button. They have provided me with tools that allow me to think about a decision and the consequences rather than just jumping in headfirst then dealing with the fall-out later.
“My life has blossomed in the past few years since coming to A Better Tomorrow. I now have a full-time job, I have my own accommodation, I’ve not long come back from a Caribbean holiday, I have goals set that I want to reach and I’m also the owner of two Kakariki Parrots.
“Five years on, I can say with confidence that without ABT’s involvement in my life I would most definitely be in prison or worse.”
‘Denzel’ is now employed on a full-time basis by A Better Tomorrow and his plan is to carry on working with the organisation until retirement age. He went from a client to a volunteer and then to permitted hours. He has now been in a full-time role for the past two years.
“To someone who is in the similar situation as I was in, I would say take the time to consciously think of what you want and what you want to achieve and ask for the help from relevant organisations.
“The best thing to do is follow the guidance of people who have been in a similar situation to yourself and managed to come out the other side, winning their own personal battle.
“It sounds like a cliché but without A Better Tomorrow’s involvement in my life I would be living my life on the wrong side of the law or I could even be dead.”