An incredible, impactful video about choices and chances on the outside.
Getting out of prison – which way to go – slip into the old life and a well-worn path back inside, or take a different route to a life free from addiction and crime and full of new possibilities? The desperate choice so many people face when the gate closes on release is vividly brought to life in this stunning film and poem featuring the real life experiences of John, one of our Leeds service users. John took the hard path – the journey to recovery – and turned his life around.
Changing the narrative after time inside
We urge you to watch this incredible film which wowed delegates at our recent staff conference. Using split screen, it tells a powerful tale of changing lives. Please share it with anyone you know who might be about to face life on the outside and who may be inspired to take a different path.
Written by Phil Pearce and performed by Phil and John, this film was created jointly with the input of our Leeds service team. Thanks so much to Phil for freely giving his time and resources to write, film, edit and record this amazing film for us and thanks also to John for his powerful performance and permission to share his story.
ALRIGHT LADS, GRAB YOUR STUFF – by Phil Pearce
It’s here, finally, the day has come!
I get out of this shit hole and I can go see me mum
This sentence for me has been quite significant
‘Cause I promised me mum things will be different!
But this guy, Paul, who’s here with me now
He’s not been looking forward for his turn getting out
Cause out there all he’s got is bad influence mates
He’s got his dealer outside picking him up from gates
He talks about how long it’ll be before he’s back
His day one is gonna be weighing out ketamine and crack
But me… you see…
It’s gonna be different this time
I’m gonna sort myself out and
Forget about crime
Emerging Futures are picking me up at gate
They’ve even sorted me out with a place I can stay
They’re taking me over to my probation meeting
And they’ve asked if there’s anything else I’m needing
We headed straight over to their office in Leeds
Emily told me some options and she planted some seeds
Of all possibilities open to me and, for once in my life, I’m starting to believe
We spoke about work, college and even recovery
I’d heard it before but it never meant much to me
But sitting here now it sort of seems more achievable
And with Emily saying I can do it, it feels more believable
We sat with her laptop and she taught me how to make a CV
I’ve never had one before it was amazing to see
Then we jumped in the car and we nipped into town
I felt motion sick at first but we put windows down
And I sat there, a free man, CV in hand
Going to the job centre where for years I’d been banned!
She helped me understand what the staff were saying
And worked out my bills and how much I’d be paying
Cause that’s one thing that I’ve never had to do
When it comes to bills and shopping I have not got a clue!!
Before drugs and prison I went to the gym quite a lot
Big guy with a face tattoo I was quite easy to spot
But I wanted that then cause of the intimidation
Walking round, tough as old boots, but it was an impersonation
Of the man that I wanted other people to see
But now I’m away from that bravado I can train just for me
I can train for the routine and getting out of bed
And also to be healthy for my body and my head
Cause exercise for some reason has always kept me calm
I never lost my temper or brought anyone harm
I could think about stuff without getting caught in a trap
Or baited into situations always ending in scraps
Drugs made me lazy I was always getting up late
I tried carrying on the gym but I’d be in too much of a state
Cause drugs literally took over my life in the end
I lost so much as a result, including family and friends
And I’m worried that’s going to be the reason I fail
Cause every time I get released drugs land me in jail
So, we’ve come here to 5 Ways to see what they do
I’m hoping to register and join up to some groups
I’ve never known before places like this even exist
Maybe now, with drugs, I’ll learn to resist
And focus on things that are a little less straining
Like, when I was a kid, all I did was go football training
Emerging Futures have given me all these opportunities
And introduced me to all of these positive communities
Where people are just genuinely trying to do what’s best
Giving you everything you need to go on and fly the nest
And have a life that means I can just do normal things
Like going shopping, paying bills, even just putting out the bins!
I’m not very good at things like social situations
Trying to just order food at a bar is filled with hesitation
Cause there’s a stranger stood there and I feel like I’m being judged
Like I’m beneath everyone, right down there with the slime and the sludge
But I’m now starting to learn that I’ve got lots to give
I don’t have to be that druggy, that thief or that div
That for years and years I’ve been labelled with
I was walking through Leeds and I bumped into Paul
He was outside a carpark just sat on a wall
And he told me how shit life was and he was planning to fall
From the top of the multi-storey and ending it all
He said I looked well and wished he had what I have
He said he’d not eaten and gone weeks with no bath
So, I told him about my life since the day we were released
And all the help I’d had so far and he couldn’t believe
Those Emerging Futures would be able to do so much for me!
And we went down to the office and he was as nervous as me
He was introduced to Caitlyn who took him out for his tea
And as his journey was beginning I was given some keys
Keys… to my front door and the rest of my life
Who knows what the future holds, whether I’ll have kids or a wife?
But right here, right now, my life is quite nice
I can make educated decisions, no more rolls of a dice
Paul came into a group I was running
It felt weird at first, but it turned out to be funny
Because he said seeing me stood there doing my thing
Showed it was possible and it motivated him
To put in the effort and achieve his own goals
And get some employment and get off the dole
I’m a year clean now and I’ve got a full-time job
I learnt to open my ears and try shut my gob
Cause working here at Emerging Futures
Michelle has this phrase and it’s completely accurate
For their work and their ways
This phrase that she uses is a perfect fit…
I’ll create an opportunity for you
It’s up to you what you do with it.
