Jamie’s Story – iFIT

Jamie's Story - iFIT

Jamie was referred to a local throughcare organisation by a lawyer following court representation in an undertaking. Jamie at that point was remanded in Gateside prison and required an address to be bailed as an alternative to custody at his next court date. Jamie was introduced to support staff from IFiT and together tailored an individualised support plan. Jamie was involved in illegal activities and was a person with historical substance use issues which were directly affecting his life in the community. 

Whilst in custody Jamie communicated a sincere desire to address the challenges in his life and work to change for the better. He worked closely with addiction nurses within prison and began reducing (ORT) opiate replacement therapy. Staff agreed with Jamie his preferred outcomes and on liberation he immediately engaged in accessing support. Jamie was very proactive and took initiative by requesting reduction in medications and over a period of 3 months reduced completely from ORT treatment. 

On liberation Jamie moved in with his family, he reconnected with mother, father and siblings. Jamies’s Mum has commented on how proud she is having her son back in her life and seeing him doing so well. Jamie recently went on a week’s retreat with IFiT peers and participated in a range of outdoor activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling and sea fishing. Jamie is in the IFiT football team that plays in a national league at different locations in Scotland and enjoys being part of the team. Jamie contributes well to peer recovery groups and is an example to others in his community, he is reintegrated and has addressed his offending behaviour and now looking into volunteering and employability opportunities.

“My name is Jamie, I first came into contact with IFiT when I was serving” a sentence in HMP Greenock. I was using substances to get me through my day in prison. I never had a lot of visitors other than my close family but IFiT visited me and gave me support upon release from prison. I continued to engage with them regularly and my life has transformed from spending a year in prison and caught up in a life of crime and addiction to having my family back in my life, being free of drugs and attending football tournaments. I have been going on retreats and am very grateful for my life and for the help along the way.”

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