40 YEARS40 stories
A word from our CEO - Rachel Chapman
Peter’s story
Read our stories
Richard’s story
Watch our stories
Carole’s story
Read our stories (continued)
Sarah’s story
Watch: Next Steps stories
Martin’s story
Listen to our stories
word from our CEO
The Matthew Project is marking its 40th year and over the course of 2024 we have been reflecting on our work and what it means to have been working with people struggling with drug, alcohol and mental health issues across Norfolk. What we want to share is the impact of our work on some of the most stigmatized and disadvantaged people in our community So we have chosen 40 stories; stories of the people we have supported, stories of staff, trustees and of volunteers but all of them stories of hope.
Peter Farley and his wife Margaret started the Matthew Project in 1984. Peter had spent his early career working as a police officer and a headmaster at a school. Despite the service he had given to his community, he still felt he had not found his purpose. His vision was to support the most vulnerable and marginalised young people in Norwich with workshops, counseling, and education to help them recover from substance misuse. It would be named Matthew meaning Gift of God, as Peter believed this is what the charity would be.
In many ways, the organisation has not changed since those early days. We still work with children and young people giving advice and guidance, supporting them to make healthy choices, and providing them with alternative activities. We also now work with adults in recovery, with people in prison and providing continuity of care as they leave prison, We work with veterans and serving military personnel.
When I started working for the Matthew Project seven years ago, I was delivering young peoples employability support.
I quickly recognised that the Matthew Project was prepared to do things differently. They had a commitment to supporting the whole person, and seeing their strengths, At the centre of this approach was the belief in hope that people and lives can be transformed.
We wholeheartedly believe that recovery is only possible with access to a community that people can lean on for support and validation. In the forty years we have existed, our charity has developed and evolved this communitybased recovery approach. Next Steps Recovery Community Centre is there to connect hundreds of individuals impacted by substance misuse with likeminded peers on the same journey.
Bringing this collection of stories together has been a humbling experience. There are so many stories of lives transformed. As you dip into the stories in this publication, I hope they give you an insight into the impact of our work. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as we have enjoyed selecting them.
Let’s reflect on those 40 stories
“The concept of the Matthew Project came to Peter in a dream. The aim would be to tackle the growing issue of drug and alcohol addiction Solutions would come through counselling, rehabilitation, workshops and education. He spent 3 hours writing everything down.”
In the words of his family:
“As Peter thought about his idea, he realised it would bring together everything he’d ever done, his time in the police force, his time working with delinquent boys, his faith and passion for helping those in need, and he felt very much that he was being called by God to do this work.
The name Matthew means Gift of God and Peter truly believed that the Matthew Project was a ‘Gift of God’.
We really have come a long way since then and so it really is wonderful to acknowledge that the Matthew Project continues to achieve and that Dad’s vision to support young people in need really does live on.”
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“My journey with TMP started when I first walked through the door October 2022. I was already 5 years clean and was struggling with my mental health. I didn’t know how to accept my past and how to forgive myself. On the outside, I have always been bubbly, caring and kind, on the inside I still hated myself.”
Tom - The Footballer
“I was 15 when I was referred to the Matthew Project by the safeguarding lead at my school. I needed help to stop smoking cannabis. I'd been smoking for a couple of years and couldn’t do it on my own.”
Laura - The Nurse
“I was a stay-at-home mum and was referred to On Track through the YMCA. I moved from another county because I was suffering domestic abuse. I didn't feel good about my future, I didn't leave my house and I felt isolated Soon after I did start to take my children out and about ”
“I visited their centre, and from the minute I walked in and was greeted by staff, I could tell it was different to any other service I had experienced. I signed up on a photography course and this was the point that my recovery really started ”
“People talk about rock bottom and that you have to hit it to change. It’s a horrible place to find yourself I should know; I've done it twice now. The first time was when I had a spell with crack and heroin and eventually found myself homeless and waking up in a wheelie bin around the back of a bakers. In the morning, I was woken up by a cleaner throwing a rubbish bag in and it landing on top of me. I froze and just laid there still, praying that he didn't see me.
The second time was when my sister committed suicide. I thought about suicide too and attempted it a few times until I ended up in hospital after hanging myself. I knew this was it, I either carry on until I was dead or change my life. Then I was told about the Next Steps Recovery Support Programme from The Matthew Project.”
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Below is a collection of short stories from The Matthew Project’s former and current members and their families, volunteers, employees and corporate partners. Watch via the screen below or download for later.
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“At a crisis point when one day my son wound up in the police cells, a Christian man named Randall, on behalf of The Matthew Project, ministered to him, and when he was later released, he was so happy and he said we were going to get help at long last.”
“He, Jonathan, was my first-born lovely child, until his death as a young adult, which separated us. His birth began my journey into motherhood. His father and I were estranged by the time of his birth. We were not reconciled before his father died tragically in an accident, at the time my little Jonathan was only eleven days old. So, the love I had for my son deepened and strengthened in regrets and silent grief.
As Jonathan grew strong and clever, our love flourished. It grew and encompassed a stepfather and stepbrother and sisters. However, later his grief, in the shape of addiction, dogged all our lives and tested our love. By the age of thirty-one Jonathan was heavily addicted to heroin and cocaine, and although he battled hard to free himself from the grip of them, he finally lost his battle. At the age of only thirty-five, he died of a cocaine overdose one summer’s night.”
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“I want to remember Ben, and to raise awareness of The Matthew Project and the support they offer; we have benefited from this as a family since Ben died. I also want to humanize those who have died from drug and alcohol misuse. They are someone’s brother, sister, mum, dad, son, daughter someone’s loved one!”
“From the early 00's I had been using drugs and alcohol regularly It went hand in hand within the music industry For over twenty years my substances of choice gave me the drive and functionality to perform my job effectively however, I was totally unaware of the long term phycological damage it was doing to me ”
Amy - The Sister Lisa - The Jewellery Maker
“I have been a member of The Matthew Project since 29th of November 2023 after I self-referred to support in my recovery from alcohol addiction, as I had reached a crisis point in my life.”
“Just before lockdown during Covid, I got very unwell I was having panic attacks and felt physically unwell, so my support worker suggested going to The Matthew Project ”
“I did the recovery course, and finally started to see that my problem was with my thinking. I had to restructure my entire belief system. I grew more in those couple of months than I had in two decades. It wasn’t only the recovery course, it was the ‘family - feel’ and a safe environment. I felt heard and understood.
As part of the course, we had an art session which reignited my passion for art. I kept going to the art drop-ins, which then led me to apply for the role of a volunteer art facilitator. I have been doing this for over a year now, and I absolutely love it. I truly believe that creativity helps with mental health. My intention is to apply for art school. If I hadn’t engaged with The Matthew Project, I wouldn’t be on this journey. It sounds cliche, but it really was life – changing.”
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Head over to our YouTube channel to discover stories from Next Steps, our Recovery Support Programme.
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“I believe that I have a great future in front of me with my support network through Outside The Wire The other veterans have become so important to me. There are still dark times, but with what I have learned I can get through things, knowing that I have people to speak with if I need to ”
“I had a nervous breakdown. I was being sick frequently and suffering terrible paranoia. I was living in a horrible bedsit, which didn't help, so my drinking increased further. It was at this point that I attempted suicide. I didn't want to kill myself, I just wanted somebody to help me.
“My veteran support worker, Justin, became really important to me and I studied over 150 online courses during lockdown. This led to me getting volunteering positions with local organisations, ranging from being an appropriate adult for West Norfolk Police to becoming a mentor to young people with addiction issues.
I have to say as I write this that I have never in my life been as strong both mentally and emotionally as I am now.”
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Click the above icon to download an audio file of three stories from three different people.