Scott Croxford – Housing Manager, The Well Communities, Carlisle

I grew up in a loving home in Carlisle, the youngest of five boys. My early childhood was good, two caring parents and a strong family unit. My addiction didn’t stem from trauma or neglect; it began in my teens, around age 13, when I started smoking cannabis and drinking with friends. It quickly became a daily habit, and my behaviour spiralled. I was only allowed to attend school three days a week, and I was fine with that, I didn’t see the damage being done.

The Struggle with Addiction

At 17, I received my first prison sentence. That marked the beginning of a 15-year cycle of incarceration, drug use, and selling drugs to fund my habit. I didn’t realise then how much control drugs had over me, or the pain I was causing my family. I missed out on so much, especially in my children’s lives.

By the age of 33, I had reached my lowest point. I had managed to stay out of prison for the longest stretch yet, but my addiction was worse than ever. I tried everything to stop including drug services and even isolating myself in caravans in the middle of nowhere, but nothing worked. When my daughter was born, I felt an overwhelming surge of love and hope. I thought this would be the moment I’d finally stop. But within 20 minutes of leaving the hospital, I used again.

My addiction grew darker. I found myself sobbing at the end of my bed, feeling trapped. My partner Kelly urged me, again, to call someone she knew from The Well Communities. That night felt different. I reached out, and within 10 days, I was in supported housing, withdrawing from drugs but desperate for help.

The first few weeks were painful. But slowly, the mist began to lift. A couple of months in, I started to feel alive again. That’s when a new kind of denial crept in, maybe it wasn’t that bad, maybe I could just use a little. But with the support around me, I pushed through and found a new way to live.

Recovery and Transformation

I moved back to Carlisle from Barrow and reconnected with my family. I didn’t enter The Well Communities hoping for a job, it happened naturally. I started volunteering, then working part-time. I was promoted to Senior Housing Worker, and now I’m the Housing Manager - all within four years.

Today, I have a beautiful family and a life I never thought possible. It’s not always easy, but it’s lighter most days. I’ve learned to live with gratitude, for the people who believed in me, for the second chances, and for the opportunity to help others find their way out of the darkness.