Customer Stories - From a fresh start to a brighter future: George’s story

Here's our latest Customer Story - read how George is changing his life.

Here's our latest Customer Story - read how George is changing his life.

At 22, George is already building a new future for himself - quite literally.

In the garden workshop at his Portus Supported Housing scheme, he has been turning his passion for carpentry into handmade furniture, including a number of distinctive chairs. But the things George has built since arriving at the service go far beyond anything made from wood.

He has built confidence, friendships and independence - and is now preparing to take another big step after securing a place at college.

It is a very different picture from when George first arrived at the scheme in 2025.

Previous difficult experiences in care had left him wary of trusting people. He found social situations challenging and could become frustrated or angry when he felt uncomfortable or overwhelmed.

The scheme’s team knew there would be no quick fix. Instead, they gave George time and space, working patiently and consistently to help him feel safe and begin building relationships.

Gradually, things started to change. As George began to trust those around him, he became more comfortable talking about what he wanted from life. His ambitions were clear: to become healthier, manage his money better, go to college and spend more time developing his carpentry skills.

Staff helped him turn those ambitions into practical goals while making sure George remained in control of his own decisions. The results have been significant.

George has dramatically reduced his alcohol consumption and smoking, cut back on energy drinks and joined a local gym. He is making healthier food choices and has become more confident managing his finances.

His passion for carpentry has also flourished. With access to the garden workshop and support to obtain the right tools, George has been able to develop his skills and create furniture of his own.

The workshop has become somewhere he can focus, be creative and see the results of what he is capable of achieving.

Perhaps the biggest change, though, has been in George himself. He is now far more comfortable talking face-to-face, expressing how he feels and spending time with other people. He joins activities with fellow service users and has even started encouraging others to get involved.

He has also developed ways of managing frustration more positively and is increasingly able to talk through difficult situations rather than react to them.

George himself sums up the difference simply. He says he has “never had a life like this before” and “never had staff like this before”.

Now, with a college place secured and his confidence continuing to grow, his focus is firmly on what comes next.

George’s story is not simply about the support he has received. It is also about his own determination to make changes and create a different future for himself. And, one handmade chair at a time, that is exactly what he is doing.