VOLUNTEERING
PEER POWER
Former Turning Point service user and peer mentor Tammy Doyle is well on her way to opening her own therapy business – a remarkable turnaround for someone who just four years ago was left with a 30 per cent chance of survival due to complications from binge-drinking .
Tammy , who spent two years at Turning Point ’ s City and Hackney service , said the social enterprise ’ s peer mentoring programme provided her with the platform to turn her life around . ‘ I started the peer mentoring programme with Turning Point after I was six months sober . It really helped me with my long-term recovery , giving back to the community by supporting other people who were struggling . I really learnt a lot about myself . I learnt that I was more confident than I thought I was . It made me realise that I can interact with people because I always thought that I was kind of introverted .’
Tammy is using the skills she learnt as a peer mentor to go back to education and gain the qualifications that will allow her to open a business that utilises different therapeutic techniques to support people ’ s physical and mental well-being – she ’ s already completed courses in Indian head massage and reiki .
‘ In September I ' m going to start a level 3 diploma in massage at City Lit ,’ she says . Her goal is similar to the one she had as a peer mentor – to help others who are struggling with difficulties with substance use . ‘ I want to help women in recovery ,’ she says . ‘ I know a lot of people who need support in things like domestic
Turning Point ’ s peer mentoring programme gave Tammy another chance at life . Zahra Paine tells her story
abuse . But I want to use this form of therapy for whatever people need healing from .’
Tammy ’ s own alcohol issues spiralled out of control in her late 20s after the break-up of her relationship with her partner . There were periods where she would regularly consume up to five bottles of wine a night and could drink three quarters of a bottle of gin in one go . The pandemic exacerbated the problem and she was hospitalised , needing a five-hour emergency operation to repair her liver .
‘ After all of this I was sent another lifeline ,’ she says . ‘ I spoke with my psychiatrist and he informed me of Turning Point . I referred myself online and received a call back . From the moment I received the phone call my life began to change . I was assigned a support worker called Lauren who was amazing . I finally felt listened to and understood .’
By September 2021 her liver function was close to normal .
‘ I told [ Lauren ] I ’ d love to become a support worker like her and help people the way she helped me . Not long after I received a message from her for training to become a peer mentor .’
‘ Doctors were stunned , and I cried with happiness . I put my recovery down to eating a low-salt , lowsugar diet , no alcohol , exercising and losing a stone in weight .’
With the help of her support worker Tammy was able to take part in a mindfulness relapse prevention course , which taught her coping mechanisms to manage her cravings and urges . She also set goals for herself , including raising money for a charity and studying business and administration .
‘ When it came to the end of my course and I was no longer in need of support after six months , Lauren asked about my plans for the future . I told her I ’ d love to become a support worker like her and help people the way she helped me . Not long after I received a message from her for training to become a peer mentor .’
After completing the peer mentor and volunteer training course , Tammy started escorting clients to rehab and detox centres and co-facilitating programmes . ‘ My confidence began to grow and I was learning to become more sociable without having to use any substances . I had a great sense of control and freedom back . The course not only taught me about the work we would be doing and the information required , it also helped me to understand my own addiction which in turn made me even stronger in my sobriety .’
Tammy travelled to other services , meeting and listening to inspiring women who were doing well on their own journey . She also co-facilitated in the managing alcohol programme and introduced and co-facilitated the 5 Ways to Wellbeing group with her supervisor at Turning Point ’ s City and Hackney service .
She completed a four-week course for the service user involvement forum , where she met with other users to discuss and come up with ideas for the service and community . She also shared her story with medical students at the Royal London Hospital to help reduce the stigma surrounding addiction . Tammy ’ s work at Turning Point was recognised when she received an Inspired by Possibility award in November 2022 . ‘ I ’ ve been given a second chance at life and feel so lucky ,’ she says . ‘ I won ’ t waste a second more .’
Zahra Paine is partnerships manager at Turning Point ' s City and Hackney Integrated Recovery Service
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