I am currently the activities and volunteer coordinator for Betknowmore UK, before reaching this role in paid employment, Betknowmore UK services really did save my life, and give me the tools possible to turn my life around.

In August 2020, my life fell apart due to an ongoing 14-year battle with gambling harms, this led me in the end to lose my home, partner, declare myself bankrupt, lose my career, and take two attempts on my life. I was lost, scared, hopeless, severe self-care neglect was present, and my overall mental health was in a bad place.

My gambling led me to commit fraud by abuse of position, something I am not proud of, and have had to battle going through the criminal justice system every day for the last 4 years, but one thing I am really proud of, is my ability over the last 4 years to reframe a negative situation into a positive and that’s all due to the ongoing support of Betknowmore UK.

I first joined the services in 2021, joining the health and wellbeing meetings as a peer, it was here for the first time I had met other people in recovery from gambling who understood me, gave me unconditional positive regard, a safe space to offload my feelings and emotions, without judgement or prejudice. The team gave me hope and empowered me to be the best version of myself, setting goals, building me a new community of friends. I used this service for over a year, attending twice a week, and in that time, I had started to blossom, studying for my diplomas in counselling, building connections in the gambling harms space, and each week developing my own recovery capital, learning from the invaluable experiences of others who had been through the horrifying position gambling harms can lead too.

After a year, I was asked if I wanted to train as a peer supporter, I was thrilled, for the first time in my recovery, somebody was judging me on my ability to do something good, not because of my past or experiences, I remember crying after that call with happiness, that maybe, just maybe I’ve got a second chance at life. I went through the peer aid training and qualified. Since then, I have given hours of volunteer hours in support to Betknowmore UK to ensure that people like me in recovery, are heard, listened too, have a chance to be apart of something that proved connection, signposting, support to maintain recovery.

In March 2024, I joined the team at Betknowmore UK as an employee, and it again has been one of the greatest achievements, to join the service as a peer, into volunteering and now into paid employment, the commitment and dedication that Betknowmore UK show to each and every one of its service users is pure brilliant, and that’s why I am doing the skydive to raise money for the amazing charity.

If me doing this skydive can save just one person, by giving them the opportunity to have the experience, development, commitment to recovery from the service, and a place where they will never feel like they must manage things alone, then I will be successful in my mission. There is one thing that recovery has taught me, opening my eyes to new challenges by choice, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and in doing so, can achieve great things! This is certainly outside of my comfort zone! Nervous! Scared! Weirdly Excited! But all for a great cause!

It would be great if anyone can donate to me for doing the skydive, it wont just be a donation for me, but for the many individuals out there who still need vital support through gambling related harms.