A journey of faith: Bryn’s story
Alabaré offer a range of services to support individuals towards living independently.
When Bryn first came to Alabaré, he was at his lowest point. A veteran who had served in the RAF Regiment for 14 years, Bryn found himself homeless after a breakdown in his relationship.
After leaving his home, he sofa-surfed until that door also closed, whereupon his situation spiralled after his savings went quickly on hotel accommodation leaving him sleeping rough under a bridge in the middle of winter.
HEAR BRYN IN HIS OWN WORDSWhen he sought help from the local council, they told him there was a 56-day wait before assistance could be provided. “I had my bags in my hands and nowhere to go,” Bryn said. “It was the lowest I’ve ever felt. There were others there waiting for sleeping bags.”
“At nighttime, you don’t really sleep. And daytime you can’t sleep because, you’re constantly watching whether anybody is going to try and steal your stuff. You have people calling you names, although I wasn’t begging, I wasn’t doing that. I was just there, you know. At first I was using a leisure centre for a shower and everything like that. But then obviously when my money run out, I didn’t have anything. I couldn’t even buy any water because I couldn’t go in a shop or supermarket, with all my stuff. I planned how I was going to end it all,” he admitted. “The only thing that stopped me was the thought of my kids and grandkids.” A fragile thread of purpose that kept him alive.
Ultimately, his daughter, who hadn’t spoken to him in over a year, stepped in. She contacted veteran support organisations, which eventually reached Alabaré. “Even though she wasn’t talking to me, she still cared enough to help,” Bryn reflected. “That meant everything.”
From that point, things moved fast, moving into one of our Wales supported houses for veterans. “When I got to the house, lay on the bed, I finally felt I could breathe again,” he said. “That day changed my life.”
Recovery Through Purpose and Faith
Since moving in, Bryn has stopped drinking, gained weight, and begun taking steps toward employment. He hopes to return to HGV driving but is open to any role that gives him purpose. “Even if I can’t drive again, I want to work. I want to feel like I matter.”
Asked what helps him stay grounded, Bryn said, “I’m focusing on the future and my family. That’s my biggest focus. I want to spend time with my dad while I still can. And I want to be around for my grandkids.”
Living with other veterans has made a profound difference. “It’s the banter, the shared language, the understanding. You don’t have to explain yourself. They get it.” Having staff who understand military culture has also been key. “When I went to the council, they didn’t understand a word I was saying. But with Alabaré, they knew exactly what I meant.”
Today, Bryn stands taller. “People say I look better now. I didn’t realise how hunched and lost I’d become. Now I’m walking forward.”
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Bryn also speaks about faith, not only in a religious sense, but in a restored belief in life itself.
“And sometimes, I found myself lying there, just having a chat with God. You know, I know people say, Oh, you should be praying and all that stuff like that. But I find I just have a chat, that’s what prayer is, isn’t it? Chat.
Whenever I really needed it, I talked to him, but then, because the vodka was getting hold of me, I was ignoring what he was telling me because of the vodka and the drinking, everything. You know, I could see he was showing me what I was doing, but I was just in denial.”
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