Case Studies
Some of these Warriors were featured in a detailed article in the Sunday Observer Magazine in February 2009. To read the article, and other press about the Warrior Programme, please click here.Adrian
Following Adrian's participation in the programme he has:
• renewed relations with his brother whom he'd not had contact with for 14 years
• dramatically improved his relationship with his girlfriend, following his learning techniques on Warrior to control volatile emotional responses in public
• found work in a permanent position as a Professional Crane Operator
• made arrangements to move into permanent accommodation
Adrian, suffering from depression had resigned himself to a life with this antisocial rage inside him, disrupting all aspects of his life. Warrior has calmed that! His girlfriend says how nice it is that she can now accompany him to a restaurant or on the underground, knowing he won't 'kick off' at the slightest little thing.
I had the pleasure of serving with the 1st Battalion Coldsteam Guards for six years and then a further four years after re-enlisting to serve in the first 'Gulf War' in '91. Having left the army in 1995 following a 6 month tour in Bosnia I eventually struggled with civilian life, suffered my second mental breakdown resulting in my becoming homeless in June of last year. Thanks to 'Veterans Aid' I am currently staying at New Belvedere House along with 57 other Ex-Service personnel.
I had previously felt lost with no clear direction or focus and feeling that my life was out of control and feeling powerless to do anything about it having suffered from spells of depression. Then I was introduced to The Warrior Programme, after which I can truly say I was able to make the fundamental shift of letting go of my anger, sadness, fear and guilt. It has been completely life changing and I am now full of confidence. I am neither haunted nor controlled by the negative and reactionary behaviour I had been using as a coping mechanism since my late teens.
Alex
Alex became homeless because of a family breakdown caused by financial stresses. He found that the hardest thing that he had to deal with was the loss of his children.
Alex says 'The Warrior Programme stopped me thinking about the things in my head, becoming annoyed and frustrated with myself. I have found it great to get a chance in life to sort myself out.'
Andrew
Andrew had a front line job, which was well payed but all his money went towards his crack habit. This led him to quit his job, leaving everything behind. He was in a suicidal state of mind and then chose to live.
Andrew was addicted to crack but he has been clean for 6 years now.
Andrew found the Warrior Programme enlightening and has given him a feeling of fulfilment.
Mary
Mary has never felt settled and has lived on the road in a horse and wagon with her two children. She has constantly been on the move to prevent her from being prosecuted by the police. Her children have also been a real challenge, with one attempting to strangle her and the other refusing to go to secondary school. Mary has struggled to keep true and in harmony with herself and the system, leading her into a state of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Mary has found the Warrior Programme very important and a turning point in dealing with her self confidence and self blame. She finds she is now able to focus on her future goals.
Jack
Jack had been in prison for 18 months and, since his release, he lost everything including his home, partner and money; with nowhere to go he found himself on the streets. Whilst being homeless with a lack of support, he has found it very hard to get his life back on track.
From day one the programme worked for Jack and he thinks everyone should do it; he says it all makes sense and feels like it's going to make him a better person, it's terrific!
George
George left care at 15, after which he ended up on the streets. He had a drinking/thieving problem and ended up in prison a couple of times.
The Warrior Programme has helped Lee to channel his thoughts into a calmer state. He says he enjoys meeting the variety of people that the Warrior Programme brings together.
Chris
The Warrior Programme, the missing link in aiding my recovery from a bi-polar condition and which became a re-connecting force in anchoring my re-engagement to my sense of worth and to 'a way of being'.
In my adolescent years I chose a career path that resulted in a thirteen-year relationship within the Household Division, and at sixteen I was recruited into the regiment of the Coldstream Guards and on swearing the oath of allegiance and receiving the 'Queens Shilling' I now found that I had enlisted into a new 'family'.
To date, I still carry much pride in my past connections to my regiment of choice, however on reflection there is a realisation that with all the good qualities and values that I attained through my military training and experiences comes a sense of loss, a loss of identity, of 'self'.
It has taken me forty-eight years to be able to connect emotionally to feelings that have been constantly suppressed. Through nurture and conditioning I became very much detached and isolated from my true self, which in it self laid way for a number of psychology delusions and issues.
My release from the above, and from the emotional turmoil's of my past came through the knowledge gain whilst attending the programme. It's structure and contents have become firm foundation blocks in supporting further explorations to my recovery as I travel on my new healthier and positive journey.
My deepest thanks go to all of those still connected to the programme and for the continuing aftercare support, my personal development and growth is all the more richer,
Thank you.
Chris
Stephen
Stephen worked as a skilled labourer but had problems with drinking heavily which caused him to lose his job and he could not pay his rent. On losing his accommodation he found himself sleeping on night buses for a few nights. When his money had run out completely, he ended up on the streets washing and showering at St Martin's.
Stephen was brought up by his father as his mother was bound to a wheelchair and died young. Stephen has suffered with anxiety attacks throughout his life.
Stephen has found the Warrior Programme a good kick up the arse and now feels he can focus on getting a job and moving on. Since the programme he is feeling more positive.
Asad
Asad was born in Somalia. He didn't have a great childhood. The effect that this had on him was that it destroyed his confidence and the ability to progress into a stable happy life.
The tools he received whilst on the course have helped him to manage his emotions and to be more in control.
Prior to the Warrior Programme course he didn't know how to express himself in a big group but he now has the confidence to do that. Also the breathing exercises and meditation he has learnt have given him a lot of energy. His levels of energy have risen and he feels good and happy in his skin.
Doing the programme has given him a positive outlook towards his future.
Nicholas
I joined the Army in 1974 as part of the Army Catering Corps. I then went on to serve with the 5th Royal Enniskillen Dragoon Guards where I spent 3 years before spending 8 years serving in Germany, I then served in the Falklands and had the opportunity to work as family chef to General Sir John Macmillan.
I was bought out of the Army, having gone absent without leave in 1986. The emotional pain I endured during the Falklands War totally changed me for life. Having served almost 15 years I was devastated to find the MOD providing no support what so ever to me.
I have spent the last 20 years feeling lost, isolated and disconnected. I spent 3 years sleeping rough on the streets of London until I was moved into New Belvedere House and then Sir Oswald Stoll where I am now.
Despite finding wonderful accommodation there was still a big void within me. I battled with depression, alcoholism and dyspraxia, nothing seemed to be helping until I took part in this wonderful new Programme called the Warrior Programme.
I can truthfully say, that prior to the Programme my head was so full of unwanted rubbish I didn't know which way to turn. I had held on to this baggage for one reason, only as a form of self-punishment!
The Programme taught me to slowly release, a bit at a time, and this was very hard but nobody working for Warrior at any time gave up on me.
Since then, my life has changed in leaps and bounds and I am sleeping well. My nightmares have all but gone, and I have stopped drinking, and for the first time in many years there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I can honestly say I feel I now feel totally connected to all the other Warriors they are like family to me.
Spike
Spike had an addiction to drugs and alcohol which was brought on by low self esteem. He was disillusioned at an early age by materialism/consumerism and the exploration of alternative lifestyles and belief systems.
He lost his mother at a very early age and in response to this his father overcompensated and started to over-work. Spike suffered with a lack of support and contact with his father whilst growing up.
Spike has a negative view of himself and felt he never really fitted in with the society's norms; therefore he created his own society with the influence of alcohol and drugs, including heroin.
He found the Warrior Programme very inspiring and it has been a boost to the journey. He feels he has increased in energy, understanding and awareness.
Steve
Following his participation in the programme Steve has:
• Announced he's become engaged and has his first child on the way
• Started work as a Kitchen Manager for a leading restaurant chain
• Discovered tools allowing him to begin coming to terms with the loss of his dearly loved brother
• Moved into an independent home in London's Kensington
Fighting alcoholism, Steve's life rollercoasted between periods of functioning sobriety & 'chaotic debauchery'. Following the loss of his beloved brother, he eventually entered rehab for the third time. Only since completing Warrior does Steve say he now has all the tools he needs to keep safe, and move forward with confidence of achieving his personal goals.
How was life generally for you prior to joining The Warrior Programme?
"Leaving the Army, I lost my direction. I came to London where I started my slippery slope of excessive drinking, I was in denial. I had the opportunity to buy a pub. After selling it I descended into terrible alcohol binges. I fought it, attended rehab twice and for at times I won. I was studying for a computer degree at university when I lost my brother in Jan 2007. Having had a really messed up, disconnected childhood it was like losing my world. He was the only person I ever had all the time. Following hospitalisation due to alcohol overdose, I went into rehab a 3rd time."
Could you describe your experiences on The Warrior Programme?
"I had began to get over my brother and stopped drinking, building up a lot of positive momentum when Warrior arrived. The energy was consuming, I had to know more!
I was looking for something that would bring me forward. By day 3, I was a completely different person than when I went in. I'd done rehab 3 times, tried everything but always went back to old behaviour.
I'd carried around so much hatred, anger and nastiness from my father. Massive amounts, gone! He did some horrific things to my brother and I, I'd forgiven him. The weight off is unexplainable. Rehab, councillors said there's no magic pill, Warrior is the magic pill!"
After Warrior, where in life has the programme had an effect?
"I appreciated the diversity of people in our group. Everyone is carrying baggage to some degree and have their mountains inside them, this course will benefit everyone.
I'm a massively different person. I woke up one day and just stopped smoking.
I absolutely love the quote from Hugh, the presenter, "I am in control of how I want to feel right now." When stressed at work, I can use the exercises & techniques
learned to immediately give me energy.
I speak with founders Eva & Charlotte several times each month. I will not stop engaging with Warrior and am so proud & privileged that I've met all these people."
Josie
Josie's main cause of becoming homeless was a lack of money. She had intended to rent a flat but found herself spending money in a way she did not want to. She had a ticket to Japan in her pocket with the intention of attending an education course as well as wanting to escape the prejudice and misunderstanding that people gave her.
When her plans fell through she felt as though she had been seriously let down. Previous to this Tinechen had also had to overcome a large car accident which caused the death of the driver in the oncoming car and all those involved in it. From this accident she suffered from a depressed fractured skull and a broken wrist.
Josie found the Warrior Programme quite excellent.
'It is designed absolutely perfectly as it cuts through the waffle and moves you to a new healthy space. It is not like long time psycho therapeutic intervention or cognitive behavioural treatment - it is much better, just excellent!'
Ulisses
Raised in the Cape Verde islands, Ulisses initially set up his own printing business. At the age of 32 he came to London to manage a small chain of restaurants, it was at this time that he started playing with drugs, it was not long before his dependancy on heroin and cocaine cost him his job.
Despite becoming homeless and losing everything, he managed to turn himself around and took up several challenging assignments including work at Allen & Overy, Barclays Bank, KPMG and the Carphone Warehouse. Despite his progress, Ulisses felt a huge void in himself and found himself falling back into the drugs habit in order for him to have courage to face the world. This soon ate into him, and after an overdose and near death experience, he fortunately found the Warrior Programme.
The new perspective he gained allowed him to totally transform his life; he has now been clean for over three and a half years and recently joined the Warrior Programme as administrator, and is very excited about the future.