'Trailblazers' share how Forward Leeds helped them rebuild lives

For the last decade, Forward Leeds has been quietly rewriting the stories of people who once believed their lives were beyond repair.

- by Laura Collins

of second chances for thousands of people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

The organisation is currently handling over 8,000 referrals a year with the single point of contact team fielding over 200 phone calls a day.

But the hardworking team supported by volunteers prove that day after day, transformation begins with quiet, unwavering kindness to help others overcome addiction.

Forward Leeds, has supported over one in 30 adults in the city since it started in 2015.

And they are expecting even more people to turn to them to help as we head into the festive season and beyond the New Year.

Jordan Hinton is just one of those whose life has been completely transformed by the team.

The 24-year-old's life spiralled as a teenager when he started taking drugs at the age of 13 after he was assaulted.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I just couldn't cope with life and started using cocaine and that just didn't do anything for me.

"I started smoking crack thinking it would be different and then I ended up taking pills, MDMA and ecstasy. If I could get them I would have them."

At his lowest Jordan's weight plummeted to just six-and-a-half stone. He said: "My mum looked at me and said you're on the brink of death but that still didn't stop me using."

Jordan continued to spiral and he went to parties to try and get his next high.