Hope Starts Here – Supporting Hands Charity

This isn't an easy subject for me to talk about and it's certainly not a plea for sympathy. I'm sharing this because it's important. If opening up about my own experiences helps even one person feel less alone, encourages someone to speak up or reminds them that there is hope, then it will have been worth it!

I'm tired of seeing good people suffer in silence, believing they have to carry everything on their own. Too many turn to alcohol, drugs or reach the point where they believe taking their own life is the only way out.

These are the stark realities our society faces today:

• 1 in 4 women have experienced SA since the age of 16.
• 1 in 18 men have experienced SA since the age of 16.
• 1 in 20 children have experienced some form of SA.

These aren't just statistics. They're real people. Real families. Real lives changed forever.

My Journey:
A small number of you already know my story, but many don't. Growing up certainly wasn't easy. Alongside being diagnosed with ADHD and an Anxiety Disorder during primary school and later Asperger's Syndrome at the age of 14, I also became a victim of SA when I was just nine years old.

The perpetrator was not a family member or family friend. I think that's important to say because these situations don't always look how people imagine them to.

What matters most isn't who did it. It's the impact it has.

Family life:
Trauma can either bring families together or tear them apart. I love my family deeply, but like many families facing unimaginable circumstances, ours was changed forever.

Social Services:
At 14, I went into care. Sadly, I found another system that was deeply broken. Across different care homes I heard horrific stories and witnessed behaviour that no child should ever have to see. In one of the very first homes I lived in, the manager offered to sell me cannabis.

I was 14 years old. A child.
That happened on my second day.

I could write a book about the things I witnessed, but sadly many people already know how much change that system still needs.

School:
By the age of 16, I'd attended more than ten different schools and educational placements. School should be a place where every child feels safe, supported and able to learn. For me, it became another place where I simply tried to survive.

Substance misuse:
One statistic that has always stayed with me is this:

Up to 85% of people receiving treatment for substance misuse have experienced childhood trauma.

I was one of them. I used substances to numb emotions I didn't know how to process. At the time, I convinced myself it was helping. In reality, it nearly cost me my life on more than one occasion. Today, I'm incredibly proud to say I've been free from those struggles for 10 years.

Mental health:
My mental health has always been something I've had to work hard on. Like so many others, I've reached the darkest places imaginable.

This culminated in me trying to take my own life when I was 18. I don't say that for sympathy. I say it because too many men never get the chance to tell their story. I'm not here because I'm stronger than anyone else. I'm here because, somehow, I survived. There are so many good men and women who never got that chance.

Today:
Today, life looks very different. I'm happily married, we're expecting our first child and every morning I wake up grateful for a life I never believed I'd have. There are still difficult days, but there is also purpose, hope and happiness. That's why I'll never stop telling people that things really can get better, even when you can't see a way forward.

I'm incredibly grateful and blessed for the amazing people around me who support me, encourage me and stand beside me through both the good days and the bad.

Having lived through the systems that were meant to protect me, I genuinely believe safeguarding needs a complete rethink. It's something I'm incredibly passionate about and something I hope to play a small part in improving.

If my story helps just one person speak up.
If it helps one parent have an important conversation.
Or if it shows one person that there really is light at the end of the darkest tunnel.

Then sharing this has been worth it.

If you ever want to message me, my inbox is always open. I'm not a professional but I have lived it and I want you to know this:
There is hope!

Everything I've been through shaped the person I wanted to become. It taught me the importance of kindness, dignity and never judging what someone might be going through behind closed doors.

That's exactly why ScoopMaven exists.

Looking ahead:
ScoopMaven has never been just about cleaning gardens. It was built on a simple belief, if we're fortunate enough to build a successful business, we should leave our communities better than we found them. Giving back has always been the mission and it always will be!

This is going to be an exciting year and every single one of you is part of that journey.

If you're struggling, need someone to listen or simply need to let everything out, Message us!
No judgement. Just support. 💙

🚨 Charity Skydive: ✈️

On the 30th of August, I'll be throwing myself out of a plane from 15,000ft to raise money for an incredible charity called "hands" (Health and Nutritional Development Services).

Among the amazing work they do, they help protect vulnerable children and families in Thailand, working to prevent child trafficking and sexual exploitation.

After reading my story, you'll hopefully understand why supporting this charity means so much to me personally.

The founders don't take huge salaries.
In fact, they take nothing. For over 20 years they've dedicated their lives to helping others.

If you can spare even £1 or simply share this post, you'll be helping protect children and families from experiencing the very things so many others have endured. That means more to me than I could ever put into words. 💚

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

If you're struggling today, please don't suffer in silence.

Speak to someone.
A friend.
A family member.
A colleague.
A charity.
Anyone.

You matter.
Your life matters.
Your story isn't over yet.
And if all you need today is someone to listen... ScoopMaven's inbox is always open.

No Judgement. Ever! 🙌💙