THEIR WORDS Phase 3
PHASE 3 - Terry
‘We were like a soldiers marching about on the Parade Ground, polishing up our boots’. Terry describes his first Detention Centre, and smiles ‘You certainly didn’t get support like Stepping Stones’. A ‘normal life of crime’ followed: he was inside again at 18: ‘Horrible. I may have learned bricklaying and cooking, but the main occupation was fighting.’ His next sentence was to a YOI, where he enjoyed keeping fit. ‘You lose energy more quickly as you get older’ – he’s now 42 – ‘but I’m still happy to walk to Purley when I need to sign on.’ Feltham followed. ‘It was half OK, typing and learning computers. Now it’s very violent.’
When Terry came out he studied Government and Politics at Kingston Poly. ‘I wanted to be a journalist and I wrote for several ethnic newspapers. Then I went round the world, to Australia and Barbados, where I’ve one uncle left. I loved Australia –they said I made the best cappuccinos ever.’ Worse times followed: work on building sites – ‘there’s no job satisfaction in mixing cement’ – which stopped because of back trouble. ‘When my Mum died (I’m the youngest of 11) I couldn’t cope. I ended up ‘accommodation- less’. My Dad’s not a good communicator.’
Next time he was inside Terry discovered Stepping Stones, through St Mungo’s. ‘You gave me somewhere to live; I was in with a good crowd. I liked the house’s Christian ethos. There I started a small computer business and set up 2 websites. Now I’ve got an even better job, referring people on low budgets to landlords.’ Stepping Stones found Terry and another ex-resident a shared home they still both enjoy after their 10 month stay. Terry wants to get remarried – ‘so I need a regular legitimate income!’