“I don’t ever need to be unhappy, because when I come to Mustard Tree, they make me happy.” Norma first came to Mustard Tree after losing her father. She was struggling with anxiety, depression and was finding looking for work…
Mustard Tree
Mustard TreeLife Stories
Jamie’s Story
In a slightly different format to usual, Jamie wrote his own story as he was able to present to a corporate group recently who were pledging their support for Mustard Tree. He says “I was so nervous going to stand…
Mark’s Story
“Mustard Tree has given me an environment where I can feel understood in a lot of ways. It’s given me my interest back in my life again…to have that is huge”. Mark has always lived with bipolar since he was…
Marcus’s Story
Marcus had experienced a challenging period in his life when he came to Mustard Tree, losing his wife in 2016 after long-term health problems and being her full-time carer for many years left him out of work. He felt isolated…
Clint’s Story
“Mustard Tree has always been a family. It’s an amazing place. You don’t get that feeling in a lot of places. The biggest difference I see is that I have my confidence back. Before I didn’t believe I could do…
Shaun’s Story
I started working in the catering industry at 16, until I was 29. Then when I moved to Manchester, I did a number of different jobs until I went back to cooking in 2014. The last place I worked before…
Chris’ Story
“I spent most of my life, from when I was 15 until I was 40, using addictive substances. I got into all sorts of problems like sleeping rough, offending, going in and out of prison. That cycle went on for…
Leon’s Story
I grew up in care, when I left care I got into a lot of trouble and I ended up going to prison. When I got out I didn’t have anywhere to go so I spent some time sofa surfing…
Rozina’s Story
Rozina*, 22, managed to escape the cycle of homelessness and secure her first tenancy in a flat. However with no savings , a low paid zero-hours contract job as a cleaner she couldn’t buy essential items such as a bed…
John’s Story
I left prison in January 2016. I had been in care since the age of 7 and I was drinking a lot and getting into trouble. I felt like nothing when I was a kid, that I’d never amount to…