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John Church

"I was a successful businessman, had paid off the mortgage and life was great. Slowly, one event led to another and I lost the lot.  I ended up sleeping rough and I almost gave up.”

Trucker John Church has finally got his life back on track after a chain of personal tragedies left him homeless and feeling worthless.

After losing both his parents within three months, John relocated his family to Canada and set up his own haulage business working as an Ice Road Trucker.  For a while, he says life was good (despite working in temperatures as low as -60!) However his marriage broke down and he was forced to sell the business and return to England with nothing.  He embarked on a new business venture with a friend, but unfortunately the business failed and the so called friend conned him out of his savings.  John had lost everything.

“I had lost all my savings. I had no job and nowhere to live and no money for the first time in my life.  I was living on the cold, snowy streets of Southampton by October 2010.  Naturally I became depressed and eventually overdosed on tablets. I ended up in hospital until I discharged myself and had to return to a life on the streets. On Christmas day the police dropped me off at Two Saints’ Patrick House Hostel and then my life changed.  Not only did I have a roof over my head, my own room and three hot meals a day, but I found support and friendship with the terrific staff there – especially my key worker Davina. They gave me the confidence and the stability to start to turn around and get my life back on track.  Importantly, family members played a huge part in my recovery.  I particularly remember a conversation with my nephew who reminded me that material possessions mean nothing, I still had my son, and that I could rebuild my life. He was right on all counts."

"After dealing with my parents' death, my divorce and my friend’s betrayal, I am now piecing my life back together. A local charity called the Dibden Allotments Charity supported me to renew my HGV license and City Limits paid for me to undertake UK tanker training. The help I’ve received is amazing.  Life changes for all sorts of reasons, but when it does, it’s great to know so many people care and want to help you get back on track.  Always remember, with a little help and guidance you can get your life back - and remember to respect all those who help you.”

John has secured a full time job as an HGV driver at the Port of Barry in Wales and says that ‘life feels good again’.

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