02/06/2026
💙🌟 Volunteers' Week: Emily's Story - "Volunteering has given me purpose, structure and hope for the future. It's also opened doors for my own development and helped me see possibilities I never thought were there"
I first came to ReNew as a client, taking things one day at a time and unsure of myself and taking things day by day. Attending groups helped me feel less alone, gave me a sense of belonging, and allowed me to build meaningful connections with people who genuinely understood what I was going through.
When I moved into day rehab, things really started to shift for me. My confidence began to grow, and for the first time in a long while I felt hopeful about the future. I started to discover a real passion for helping others and became curious about how I could give something back. With encouragement and support from the team, I took the step into volunteering as part of my ongoing recovery.
Today, as a Peer Mentor, I use my lived experience to support others who may be facing similar challenges. I've learned that you don't need to have all the answers. Sometimes, simply listening and letting someone know they're not alone can make a real difference.
Being a Peer Mentor with Forward Trust has been one of the most rewarding parts of my recovery journey. The support I've received from the team has helped me build confidence, develop new skills and grow both personally and professionally.
I'm now over 18 months sober, taking recovery one day at a time. That's something I'm incredibly proud of.
My journey has shown me that change is possible, and that recovery can open doors you never imagined, turning difficult experiences into something positive, meaningful and full of purpose.
💜 As we celebrate Volunteers' Week, we'd like to thank all of our volunteers and peer mentors who use their time, compassion and lived experience to support others.
Interested in becoming a Volunteer or Peer Mentor with ReNew, Forward Trust?
📧 Contact Jennie: [email protected]
