08/06/2026
Robin was homeless and living on the streets in Peterborough for five weeks. He was previously an abseiler and a builder as well as having worked on wind turbines to repair blades.
Robin admits to his situation being ‘self-inflicted’ but events in his past have caused stress and led to a slippery slope. “I used to live down in London for five years. I'd been in and out of homes, basically through drug abuse, and I lost three sisters within 18 months of each other. This spiralled my life out of control. Most of my family then moved away. My two daughters live in Peterborough and there’s a granddaughter who is a year and a half with another grandchild on the way as well. Over the past five years, I've been wanting to come up here, but I was still stuck in the rut with drugs.”
Robin adds “I decided I need to finally break away from that and the only way I could do so was to just jump on the train. I didn't have any money at the time. I was at a stage where I was stealing food, just to survive and eat every day. On my journey to Peterborough, I looked for places and help because my daughter couldn't put me up due my drug abuse. My daughters were shocked about my drug misuse at first but at least it's all out in the open now.”
When Robin arrived in Peterborough, he headed straight for the Garden House following his research online. “It's a very accommodating place and I was welcomed in with open arms. I think without that kind of support, I wouldn't be here now. And that's the god’s honest truth. With the help of Garden House, especially Teresa [Project Worker], I’m proud to have gotten myself clean of drugs now.” During his time with LPP, Robin has seen a doctor and been interacting with Liam from Fitness Rush. Both of which has helped with his shoulder injury.
“I'm now actually seeing a doctor for the first time in over 15 years. I'm making progress and I keep thinking to myself, “Why didn't I do this before?” When I really should have just had the courage to do it. I'm a worker. I don't feel like I'm a person unless I'm working. So, this is killing me a little bit, not being able to work but that’s my next aim.”
Robin has made progress in his homelessness journey by securing somewhere to live though like many others, there is an anxiety which comes with it. “I’ve recently just been housed, and I should be extremely happy, but I'm actually quite nervous, because I'm not used to having stability. However, I'm really hoping as each day goes along, that feeling is going to go. I keep trying to push myself every day, and with my new friends, we're all helping each other, which is great. Again, I'm so appreciative of everything everybody's done for me.
Even though Peterborough has a lot of homelessness, I understand all the troubles, how hard it is, how difficult it is to house people, but I'm amazed that in five weeks I've been housed. I'm on the first step, and I've only had to live in a tent during that time, even though the first couple of days, I was sleeping in a bag under a tree. There's never a peaceful night when living on the streets. You often get little sleep if any at all.”
Robin concludes, “I've met some amazing people here as well as some really funny ones, but they’re from all walks of life, all in similar situations, and we've all generally got the same thoughts, addictions, and mental health issues. My advice to anyone who becomes, or is currently homeless, is to be brave enough to take that step and accept the support, get yourself clean, and look ahead. I'm doing that day by day now all thanks to the Garden House and the support of Peterborough City Council.”
