BRIGHT FUTURE
LEARNING TO SWIM AFTER TIDE OF DESPAIR
RICHARD Tracey was two when his mum took her own life at the age of 20.
He was separated from his brother and taken into care, then placed with a large foster family in Kilmarnock.
Richard claims that instead of being raised in a safe and loving home, he was beaten and sexually abused.
He said the abuse took place through the 70s and 80s. But its legacy has been life-long.
Richard, 48, said: “It took away my childhood and it’s only recently, with the help of counselling, that I feel I’m starting to get my life back.”
Let down as a child by the authorities who failed to act on his pleas for help, much of Richard’s adult life has been plagued by depression and alcoholism. He has made several suicide attempts.
But contacting Future Pathways was a positive step.
Richard, who now lives in Devon, said: “Like many survivors, I’m very good at putting on a brave face. They put me in touch with a trauma counsellor who was immediately able to spot some of the issues.
“I’ve felt like a victim for a long time and it’s hard to move on from that. But the Future Pathways support worker has a very rare quality of making me feel at ease.”
As well as counselling, Future Pathways also funded swimming lessons for Richard.
He was denied the opportunity as a child, while his foster family’s own children learned to swim.
Richard added: “Future Pathways have given me back the experience I missed out on as a child.
“I’m feeling more optimistic. Knowing I have their support is very important.”