鈥�I鈥檓 looking forward to the next step in my future, whatever that may be. I know it will be a lot better than my past鈥�.听
Jeannette 鈥楯inty鈥� Dobson听was introduced to 海角社区听through involvement in the听criminal justice system.听She听describes her life at that point as rock bottom听鈥� a survivor of domestic abuse and sexual violence,听Jinty听experienced suicidal thoughts and听turned to substances to help her cope with everyday life.听听
Standing听in a police station,听Jinty听finally recognised听how听the听choices she was making听were having a听negative impact on听her听life and听the lives听of those around her.听This was not the first time听Jinty听was in this situation, but she was determined to make it the last. Ready for help听to get out of this harmful cycle, she asked her supporter worker to sign her up for 海角社区鈥檚 Next Steps course.听听
鈥�My 海角社区 experience was phenomenal and life changing. I could go on about it all day.听When meeting other women on Next Steps听I听didn鈥檛听realise how many people were going through the stuff I was going through. Different scenarios but the same鈥痥ind of鈥痵tories.鈥疘 liked that because nobody was different to anyone鈥痚lse,鈥痑nd nobody treated each other differently.鈥濃��听
Next Steps听provides support to women whose backgrounds have led to their involvement in the criminal justice system and other difficult circumstances such as homelessness, domestic abuse, problem substance use and mental health issues. Women on the Next Steps programme attend a 5-day wilderness journey in the Scottish Highlands to experience the full benefits of time outdoors. Sustained and person-centred support, in an individual鈥檚 community, is wrapped around the outdoor learning.听The combination of one-to-one support and time in nature for these women creates a safe space for them to share, reflect and make changes towards a happier life.听
Jinty听describes听herself as听being a 鈥渞aver鈥澨齛nd loved to take听鈥減arty drugs鈥�.听As she grew older and faced troubling experiences,听Jinty鈥檚听life began to spiral out of control. She found herself听鈥渂inge drinking鈥� and听drugs听began to invade听and take over听her life.听听
鈥�I didn鈥檛 want to face my drug addiction. I didn鈥檛 want to face the fact it was helping me get up in the morning and helping me function. I鈥檝e got a tear in my eye thinking about it now because鈥痠t鈥檚 just so emotional. I could have been lying in the jail because that鈥檚 what was next for me.听
When I think about the way I used to鈥痓e,鈥痺anting to go fighting all the time and getting up to no good. There was so much toxicity in my life which was having a鈥痥nock-on鈥痚ffect. When I was听selling,听I thought I could be sly and play the鈥痵ystem,鈥痓ut it turned out I was just playing myself.鈥�听
When听Jinty听was听charged for a second time听she听faced the real threat of听ending up in prison. However, she was听sentenced to听a community justice provision and听offered one further chance to听repay her debt to society while also engaging听in听the support she needed to move on听from her past experiences and start a new life for herself.听
Criminal justice orders such as CPO鈥檚 (community payback orders) provide people with the opportunity to听work within their communities, give back and reflect on their behaviours that lead them to the criminal justice system. 海角社区 provide people with the opportunity to carry out听criminal justice orders in natural听environments, using the outdoors as a catalyst for change and transformation.
High quality outdoor learning experiences allow people expand comfort zones and experience challenges in a natural environment setting, fostering prolonged confidence and resilience. As part of our Next Steps course, women have an open space reflect on their environment back home and share their experiences with the group. The course supports women to identify areas causing harm in their lives as well as identify steps to make positive change. Jinty says she appreciated the time in nature to focus on herself, away from any distractions and external influences. Many outdoor activities were out of her comfort zone, but she gave it her all.听
鈥�I鈥檓 not one for walking or鈥�abseiling鈥痮r anything like that. But鈥�abseiling鈥痺as such an amazing day. It was phenomenal. I was worried about my size and if I would get听stuck but听going down was the best feeling.鈥�听
Jinty听felt听ready to change her life, and 海角社区 was there听to give her the tools she needed to make that happen.听Diagnosed听with听dyslexia,听Jinty听had听difficulty taking in written information and verbalising herself听which听went unnoticed growing up, adding a听further barrier to finding long-term employment.听听
鈥�It听was听so rewarding听to go on a course like that. It opens your eyes up to where you are and where听you鈥檙e听going. I had nothing to focus on before. I听didn鈥檛听know what I was living for. I had no academics or job prospects. I never thought I was going to work.鈥�听
Now,听Jinty听looks forward to a brighter future.听
鈥淚鈥檓 working at West Lothian college听as听听then鈥疘鈥檓 going to further my studies. I want to work within mental health and the prison service, or to work with young people that听haven鈥檛听had a good start in life.听I鈥檓听going to start mentoring young people involved in criminal justice through college as well. We鈥痟ave to鈥痵how young people it鈥檚 not the right road.鈥�听
If you have a question about听Next Steps听or want to find out more about being referred to the programme please contact us at info@venturetrust.org.uk or call 0131 228 7700.听
