“I come to LandWorks obviously through my probation officer. So, I came out of jail and he asked me if I wanted to go and at the start I was like I don’t really … do you know what I mean? I don’t really like travelling, going places, but he took me out here for something to eat.
I don’t mind coming. I actually enjoy coming here and obviously you get things from it. It’s not like you just come in here and just … do you know what I mean? I have space. Chris picked me up from the train station. I said to him about a CSCS card and within an hour he came back and was like that’s sorted that is. I was like what’s sorted? And he was like your CSCS card. There’s a little stepping-stone to get something.
Obviously, I’ve come out here and the thing is I want to be employed from like … because I’ve never done … I’ve not even done community service, ever, because I’ve always been on the sick. I’ve never been into work. I’ve only sold drugs, but now like, I drastically want … I come here and I’m happy doing it. I’m happy getting in that workshop. I’m enjoying it.
I’ve never had no stability, no nine ‘til five, never even put a pair of boots on. So now I’m like enjoying it and I’m dying just to get a job. Like the little bit of stuff, I do in here … it’s not the best … it’s not like I’m getting … it’s still a bit strange for me. Do you know what I mean?
So yeah, it’s good. I enjoy it. Everything’s sound. All the people are nice and that. There’s no like awkwardness or like someone’s better than someone.
I used to be like that a bit, be opinionated about people. I’ll admit it, like I’d look at someone at the way they dress, and I’d have an opinion on them. Do you know what I mean? But since I’ve come out of jail and like coming here as well, like I could be in a group and not think I’m in a group. Do you know what I mean? But now I don’t mind it. Yeah, it’s helping me a bit coming here to work, getting myself out there. Say if I do go and get a job on Monday, I’m a bit out of my shell to be like … I could talk in the van. Do you know what I mean? Like being here … I don’t talk in groups. I’m not into it. I don’t. But coming here, everyone’s nice and I get on with it.
If I get back into drugs, I’ll go down for 20 years, 100%, or even a 15 and I can’t do 15 years. So, I think drugs … mugs. Get a job, have a normal life.
But now … no. Never going near drugs again, never, no. I don’t even smoke. I smoke vapes. Do you know what I mean? I don’t even drink. I’m not a drinker, don’t drink. I’ve never been arrested pissed fighting. I’ve only been arrested for selling drugs to make money. That is it, that’s the only time. I got money in my head, but the wrong way. Now I’ve got money legitly. I was probably one of the best drug dealers and that’s not me blowing a trumpet, but I was good at it, but I know I’ll be good at this. I just want legit money. Do you know what I mean? I just want a nice bit of bank, nice bit of money, then sometimes when I’m bored, I can go somewhere to eat, or I can do anything I want. Do you know what I mean? I can go and buy a car.
Yeah, I reckon I’ll get the support here that will get me on that right path to get to where I need to be[…] I know people come here having a bad day and they come here and their day’s sorted. Do you know what I mean? I can see people come here having a bad day, get here, get the boots on, by the time they’ve had something to eat, they’re smiling. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, it’s like a little family thing. It’s good. It’s decent like…
I just can’t wait to end up getting a job and telling my bird’s mum I’ve got a job or my bird’s dad.
She probably could’ve been a band-6 by now. Married with a nice husband. Do you know what I mean? I was just there, the kid that came out of jail. Do you know what I mean? But progress, it works. I know how it’s going to end up. I can see it. I can see it working out decent. Do you know what I mean?
If not, it’s going to end in jail. It’s either jail or make a life, for me, that’s all it is now, because it was either like jail or die. That’s what it’s like for me now though. It’s either go legit or don’t. Now, it’s like straight up. I won’t even think about … before I come out of jail, I was thinking what can I do? I was scared, proper scared. I was thinking I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life here now, like how the hell do I start it?”
A window into LandWorks 