Eleven residents, who previously struggled to read and write, succeeded in passing their Literacy and Numeracy Levels 1 or 2, after just a few months of intensive Saturday morning lessons with Ruskin College tutors, Bev Merritt and Martin Keery. Ruskin has had an on-going partnership to provide the Ley’s educational provision since 2006.

Professor Audrey Mullender, Principal of Ruskin College was there to hand out a record number of 22 certificates and congratulate the learners on their first step towards a brighter and more positive future.

“It is an extremely joyous occasion to attend as it marks a real ‘turning point’ for many of the Ley residents. Often, this success is the first educational achievement in their lives!” commented Professor Mullender.

Established in Oxford in 1971, The Ley Therapeutic Community was one of the first dedicated drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation centres in England, and is an independent registered Charity.  

‘Jane’, a 42 year old resident recovering from severe behavioural problems as well as a 30 year addiction to Class A drugs and alcohol, left school at 12, her family at 14, and never completed her education. She ran away to London, ended up in violent and abusive relationships with older men and was given custodial sentences for theft, fraud and possession of drugs.  

After years of severe drug abuse and weighing only 6 ½ stone, ‘Jane’ was physically, mentally and emotionally at rock bottom when her drug social worker managed to get her a residential place at The Ley Community.  

But now, 33 weeks later, ‘Jane’ has discovered a new lease of life. She has passed her Level 1 exams in both Numeracy and Literacy, fully intends to continue studying and plans to take her Level 2 exams in 2009.  

“If I can do this, anyone can – I’d really given up all hope! But that’s not all, since I’ve been here I’ve built up relationships and proper friendships too which I’d never had before because I’ve developed a sense of my own self-worth and got some confidence again.”  

In February, ‘Jane’ will start doing voluntary work in order to gain work experience and a reference before going out to find full-time employment.  

Fellow resident ‘Simon’ (25), was unable to attend school regularly from the age of five because of kidney failure and fell way behind in his learning, as a result. He left school at 14, was introduced to heroin and crack by his sister’s boyfriend, and got hooked before he was 16 years old.  

‘Simon’ funded his heroin addiction by robbing, shop-lifting and committing burglaries and has been sent to prison 14 times over the past 8 years. He found drugs were easy to come by in prison and chose not to attend any of the prison service education classes.  

About 18 months, ago after a particularly traumatic event in his life, ‘Simon’ found himself in a desperate turmoil. He explained: “This time I really lost control, it was all too much. I thought something’s got to change and so I asked to be sent to rehab. That’s when I came to the Ley, about 40 weeks ago now.”  

‘Simon’ decided to try their Saturday morning classes but it wasn’t always plain sailing going back to basics. He readily admits he would get frustrated and either mess around or lose his temper. “But Bev or Martin would sit down next to me and explain it. They had more belief in me than I did in myself – someone finally believed in me! My tutors understood where I’d come from and they didn’t judge me, and now I have my Level 1 in Literacy.”  

“I will be looking for a job and would like to start college part-time, learn more and see where I can go from there. I’ve started to believe in myself now and know I have to push myself in order to move forward with my life” explained ‘Simon’. “But, without the help of the staff here and at Ruskin, I wouldn’t be able to do this. I couldn’t do it on my own. They have opened my eyes to what’s possible and for that, deserve a lot of credit.”  

The Ley believes that everybody should have the opportunity, support and enabling environment to overcome addiction and realise their full potential in order to become a valued member of society. For those who make the decision to enter recovery, it provides the best quality residential service.  

Wendy Dawson, Chief Executive of the centre said: “For Ley residents to have the opportunity to engage in a learning environment within the Ley Community, with skilled tutors from Ruskin College, and receive a certificate in recognition of their achievement, is something to be very, very proud of." 

In a similar vein, Ruskin is an adult residential college, which takes learners returning to education, sometimes from very difficult personal and social circumstances, and gives them a second chance. This has included students who have been homeless, have experienced violence and abuse, as well as those who have struggled with physical or mental health problems.