What does it really take to turn things around? For Steve, it started with one simple step, reaching out for support.

When Steve first came to Barnsley Recovery Steps, he was going through a really difficult time. He had experienced personal loss and was struggling with substance use, but he also knew he wanted something different. He wanted to become abstinent and build a better future for himself, even if he was not quite sure what that would look like yet.

That is where our IPS employment service came in. Through IPS, Steve met Kim, one of our employment specialists, and from the start it felt like more than just support into work. It was about having someone in your corner. Kim worked alongside Steve with one to one, person centred support, helping him rebuild his confidence, take small steps forward, and reconnect with something he had always enjoyed, cooking.

Over time, those small steps really started to add up. Steve completed a culinary course, built up his skills, and with the right support secured a role as a trainee chef with an employer who truly understood his journey and saw his potential.

But this is about more than just getting a job. For Steve, employment gave him structure, purpose, and something to work towards. It became a big part of his recovery and helped him feel like himself again. Along the way, he and Kim built a strong connection based on trust and shared understanding, which made a real difference.

Today, Steve is doing really well. He is sustaining both his recovery and his job, and he is now thinking about how he can support other people who might be where he once was. His story shows that things can change, and that with the right support, people can find their way forward again.

Watch Steve’s full story to hear it in his own words and see just how far he has come.

Also, well done to Steve and Kim for handling filming on the hottest day of the year!