Lucy's Story

Lucy* had it all – a good job, a lovely home and a man she was madly in love with, but her world came tumbling down when he cheated on her. Like many other young people her age, she started to go out a lot drinking, but it was never a problem.

She then met who she thought was the man of her dreams – he was charming and considerate. He had a checkered past but love is blind.

Lucy says “I really fell for this guy, he was wonderful for the first few months but then he became very controlling – I’d be walking on eggshells, never knowing when he would turn on me”.

Slowly he became more manipulative and controlling, and he introduced Lucy to drugs. Before she knew it, she was hooked.

“One night, he got really mad at me and he called me a lot of names, and then pushed me against the wall. I got really scared but he said he was sorry and he’d never do it again – but it only became more frequent”.

Imagine being told every day that you’re worthless.

“I was an educated woman, with a job and a secure future. I never thought I would end up in an abusive relationship. I managed to escape but ended up living on the streets for over a year – because of the relationship my world was no longer filled with family and friends. I had no one!”

Lucy was stuck in a cycle of addiction. She went into rehabilitation centres to try and beat her addiction but was unsuccessful. Thankfully, she found HARP.

When Andrew, Lucy’s support worker, first met Lucy, her self-esteem was low. She felt worthless due to years of physical and emotional abuse. Now, thanks to the support she has received from HARP, Lucy has turned her life around.

After being free from drugs for over a year, Lucy started volunteering for HARP in our Day Centre and is now working for HARP supporting people to overcome their issues, just like she was supported by Andrew.

“I feel I owe them my life, I would not be where I am today if it hadn’t been for HARP”.

*In order to protect the privacy of the people we help, names have been changed and models used.