Derek's story - Finding Shelter

Derek* moved from Scotland to London in 1987 in search of employment opportunities, eventually building a career as a contractor in the electrical industry, working on trains and the tube network. However, his life took a difficult turn when his health began to deteriorate in the early 1990s. Following a long history of acute pancreatitis, Derek was diagnosed with diabetes, which made it increasingly difficult for him to sustain work and secure new contracts.

As his employment situation worsened, Derek was forced to rely on universal credit. During this period, his mental health declined significantly. He experienced depression and anxiety, began drinking heavily, and lived in unstable and distressing accommodation with a friend whose alcoholism led to frequent conflict. Eventually, Derek found himself without stable housing, regularly using night buses and trains for shelter through the night.

Derek’s situation had reached a crisis point when he contacted ScotsCare. The charity provided swift support through the ScotsCare Outreach Worker Patricia with Derek saying “Patricia has been great and really helped out.”

One of the most significant turning points was being offered one of ScotsCare’s sheltered housing flats. He describes this as a “a life saver as I was starting to have suicidal thoughts at the end.”

In addition to housing, ScotsCare offered therapeutic support. Through regular sessions with therapist Michael, Derek was able to address his anxiety issues and begin rebuilding his mental wellbeing. These services enabled Derek to address both his mental health and the wider challenges he was facing.

Today, Derek’s life has changed dramatically. He is now alcohol-free and is managing his health conditions far more effectively. Living within ScotsCare sheltered housing accommodation has also given him a sense of belonging within a supportive Scottish community, which he values highly.

Reflecting on his experience, Derek strongly recommends ScotsCare to others facing similar challenges, saying: “I would very highly recommend ScotsCare to anyone who is struggling with life.”

*Name has been changed to protect identity.