When DV first connected with the Alcohol HOPE Project, they were lonely, withdrawn, and struggling to imagine a life beyond the four walls of their home. Leaving the house felt overwhelming. Meeting new people felt impossible. And the thought of joining a group was too much to even consider.

So we began gently.

One-to-one support at home. Quiet conversations at the kitchen table. Sharing worries, hopes, and the feeling that life had become too heavy to carry alone. Week by week, DV started to trust the process — and themselves.

In time, they took their first step into a group. Nervous, cautious, but willing. And that first step was the turning point. Bit by bit, their confidence grew. They started attending more groups, connecting with others, and discovering that they weren’t alone after all.

Now, DV goes for regular walks, feels part of something, and has begun talking about volunteering next year, something they once believed they could never do.

Their journey isn’t unusual here. It’s exactly what HOPE is about: meeting someone in their loneliness and walking with them until they find their strength again.