For the first time in her life, Ellen feels safe—and proud. After years of instability, abuse, and constant moves, she’s found not just a roof over her head, but a community that values her voice. From joining a band to helping shape services for others, Ellen is proof that even the most turbulent beginnings don’t have to define the ending.
When Ellen describes her childhood, the memories don’t come in order. They come like flashbacks, slammed doors, shouted threats, bruises that never healed properly. “I’ve lived in 35 different houses,” she says quietly. “By the time I was 15, I’d already moved 12 times. I thought that was normal.”
Now in adulthood, Ellen is finally beginning to rewrite the story she was handed. But the road to safety has been long, violent, and punishing. Raised in poverty and chaos, she never felt secure, not in her body, her home, or her relationships. “Home wasn’t safe,” she says. “And when I tried to run, the world didn’t catch me.”
Instead, Ellen fell into a string of abusive relationships, each one echoing the harm of her early years.
“I stayed with men who hit me because going back home was worse.”
She fought to escape. At one point, she made it into university, hoping to study science and build a new life. But trauma can travel with you, and the ghosts of her past reappeared in the form of mental health crises, addiction, and isolation.
When she was evicted because of something her flatmate did, it broke something inside her. ‘I’d done nothing wrong,’ she says, ‘but I still got kicked out. Again.
Eventually, standing alone on a balcony she made a phone call to a crisis line. “That was a big deal for me,” she says.
That call led her to Depaul UK. Ellen didn’t know help was out there.
“I didn’t even know you could ask the council for support,” she says. “I genuinely thought I’d end up on the streets.”
What she found at Depaul UK wasn’t just a place to stay. It was safety. It was the first time she’d felt truly seen.
“They didn’t flinch when I told them everything. They made me feel like I wasn’t crazy. Like I wasn’t broken.”
Depaul UK have staff who are trained in practical tools like the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), and every interaction is rooted in compassion, not judgment. Ellen poured herself into their workshops and support groups, even on the days she didn’t feel like she deserved help.
“Sometimes I went just to be around people who made me feel human.”
With their support, she began to access services she’d never known existed including Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). “Someone helped me fill out the forms. Another helped me get online grocery deliveries so I could eat.” She also received grant funding to stabilise her living situation. “It made a huge difference knowing someone was in my corner.”
That stability gave her room to grow. Her confidence returned. She was invited to become a Client Representative to help shape our services from the inside. Client Reps influence policy, speak on panels, and ensure the charity stays rooted in the voices of those it serves. When speaking about a recent service committee meeting she was invited to she said:
“It was incredibly nerve-wracking to begin with, but once we realised how nice everyone was and how much they appreciated our input, I was able to relax and it went very well. I had my soft toy with me for comfort not thinking when I took him out of my bag that it might be a little unprofessional, but no one batted an eyelid. Jane even asked about him. I didn’t feel judged or put down, and regardless of me needing an emotional support toy, they still wanted my input.”
During this time, Ellen started her first healthy relationship. She joined a band. She started volunteering. Today, she lives in a flat with her boyfriend, and she’s about to start a work placement.
For the first time, Ellen doesn’t just feel safe, she feels proud. “I never thought I’d get to say that. But here I am.”