I was working as a taxi driver and I was married and in my own home. In 2020 I was injured in a work-related accident, I couldn’t drive anymore and so I lost my job. Around the same time due to tension, my wife decided to leave me. Everything in my life changed and, with the stress and health concerns, I was in a very dark place. I felt like I was drowning and I couldn’t get out.

I thought my life needed to end; I thought about it many times. I was so depressed I didn’t want to see anybody. I was incapable of paying bills I had built up while I was not working so I turned off the heating, stopped eating properly and was unable to afford basic things like washing powder and toothpaste!

It’s not easy when benefit payments are delayed and you have to live on such a tight budget when things are out of control. I'm a proud man and I was embarrassed by my situation; I hid away from people and I started to be afraid to leave the house or socialise with people. Beyond Limits asked me a few times to come to an afternoon tea and I refused then one day I decided to give it a go. The help they gave took me on a little journey of regaining my dignity and bit by bit I took back my life. I thank God I'm no longer in that very dark place. I'm not saying everything is bright but I do know that there are people out there that can guide people like me that was struggling

My advice to you is don't give up!

When I couldn't buy food I’d sit up all night, scared to go to sleep as I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. I sometimes thought about taking my own life as I couldn’t see how things could improve. I reached out to Beyond Limits and now I feel my mental health is improving because I don’t need to constantly worry about how to put food on my table. I’m sleeping better at night as well. It’s helping me to open up and socialise more. I've loved the art packs that have been sent to my home in the lockdown and also meeting new people when the restrictions were lifted.

My hope is if anyone is in the same situations as I found myself in that you don't bottle it up as I know there is help out there and like me you just need to ask.

I got an invite from Beyond Limits to join a hair up do training session.  It was nice to get the invite as I hardly leave my home and the training was to do different ways like how to braid hair and put it up in different styles. It was interesting and I learnt a little more than I did about different hair styles.  I also attended a couple of art classes, it was lovely to get that invite. Also, I learnt how to mould clay and how to take pictures properly with a camera , although I don't socialise that much with people and I get anxious around too many people who I don't really know.  This relaxing small class was a handful of people.  I wouldn't normally bother if too many people were there but I love these little groups so I would like to thank Beyond Limits and their staff for being so kind and welcoming and patient with me.

Before I came to Beyond Limits, life was rough. Things were extremely hard at school as I couldn't keep up with the lessons and I just wanted to run away. This affected me big style. I hated school and would try and escape by crawling under tables, it seemed like I was messing about but I was desperate.  I would run out of the classroom, even shutting myself up in another room just to get away.  I disliked most school teachers, and would on occasions be negative and verbally abusive towards them.

I found it hard to accept if I was ever doing well and if I made even a slight mistake, I would just shut down. I didn’t know how to share my feelings and I felt so alone.

It was especially hard when my school decided it wasn’t right for me to go there anymore and for a time I was being homeschooled and I couldn't go out all of a sudden because of lockdown.

I then started experimenting with drugs and could easily find them for sale. Money was tight in the family and often my mum would find things that went missing which later she found were sold to make money for drugs. I got very depressed and self-harmed by cutting into my arms with a  blade

My parents hardly knew how to cope with me! They heard about a project at a local charity where I could learn how to do some landscape gardening and enquired how I could get involved. So that’s when I arrived at Beyond Limits. At first, I kept myself to myself. I’d sit with my head in my hands and ignore everything. I was given a certificate for taking part in the work but I instantly got rid of them. I didn’t want to be good at anything as I was frightened about people challenging me if I did do well - I didn’t want that hassle. But I think deep down I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t know how to let people in.

The workers at Beyond Limits were ace and really helped me. I began to trust them and soon realised they cared and wanted to help me and I could be myself with them. Looking back, I can see how I have changed. I’m not scared of getting things wrong and I am proud of myself. I have stopped self-harming and don't do drugs anymore.

I do sometimes wake up in the night with anxiety but I am working with someone to help me with this. I am now studying engineering and GCSEs at college. I never thought I’d be going to college. Through your support, my life now looks different and I now have hope for my future.

I met the wonderful people of Beyond Limits some years ago. At the time I was caring for my sick husband and desperately needed a bit of me time. I also have a daughter with mental health problems and persuaded her to go with me. It didn't start well but because of the relaxed atmosphere we came away from our crafts lesson with a new skill under our belts as well as new friends.

Beyond Limits  has been a constant source of support to us, especially after my husband passed away and during difficult periods like our first Christmas and New Year without him. During lockdown they have sent us food parcels and comfort boxes as well as a surprise gift for my daughter, which included a special song that bought her much joy.

We are so thankful to have them in our lives not only for our physical needs but for our spiritual  and emotional needs as well. Thank you Beyond Limits and especially Susan, Linzi and their team for everything you do for us.

I just wanted to send a little note to say what the food challenges have meant to me and how I was able to bless others too .... well firstly it's hard to choose where to start as they have meant so much.
Personally I suffer with my mental health and physical health too especially over the last few years ... there are so many times when I am so low and can't face getting out of bed or getting dressed, let alone consider doing any cooking ... but when the invitation to take part in the food challenges comes up I jump in with both feet as I know it inspires me to get cooking again ... 
This year the challenges were going to be done differently and straight away my anxieties kicked in and I nearly pulled out before the first pack came ... but I am so very grateful that I didn't ... 
Firstly this year we were given ingredients and then a link to a video showing step by step how to make two recipes ... and we were asked to post our picks of the items we made ... I found it a bit hard at first but soon got into the new ways of doing things and suddenly I was baking pot pies and making my own fresh tortilla breads and banana spelt pancakes for breakfast etc (who knew they were all so easy to make) ... and just like the last time I did the challenges the joys and excitement of cooking returned and I was chatting about food to friends and opening up more conversations which all improved my health again.
The packs have often contained more than enough ingredients for the recipes and extra items to make too,  and so I have been able to give my neighbours and friends some items like fresh fruit and potatoes and apples etc which has meant they were blessed too with a little love and a free gift ... I always believe in the paying it forward ethos ... if I have it and someone needs it then come on over and you are welcome to it ... 
Well this food challenge has been my favourite week so far as it meant I was able to provide a luxury blessing to some very special friends ... the challenge was an afternoon tea pack which included all the items needed to make asst sandwiches, fruit scones, a big choc orange cake and a dessert of your choice ... 
Susan kindly told us a bit about it in advance so we could start to plan things and think about who we wanted to share the love and blessings of this pack with ... we were encouraged to be artist in our presentation etc etc and they provided a few items for this too ... 
well my energetic abstract mind went crazy and it took a lot to reign it in and work out what I could actually do etc without making myself I'll which would have been the opposite of the purpose of the packs ... 
So I chose 3 very special people who are more than family to me and do so much to help others from behind the scenes etc that people just don't know about so they don't get thanked etc ... I thought this was a really beautiful way to make them feel special ... so I baked and prepped and produced an amazing spread which made me feel thrilled and excited too ... the afternoon was a huge success and there was such a lot of food that they all got some to take home to their loved ones and so it blessed yet another set  of people too ... it reminded me of the Bible where Jesus had the loaves and the fishes and a huge crowd of people but with just so little he miraculously fed everyone ... well this blessing expanded just like that too ... 
Thankyou so very very much and please keep doing the food challenges as well as all your other work as it helps  people's well being, mental health and food needs too ... not just in practical ways but in all the unseen ways like stimulating positive conversations in a week of pain and depression, or allowing someone to just give for once instead of always being the one in need etc, or helping us to inspire others just by sharing a picture of our creations etc