Adam's drive to turn life around earns award nod

A FATHER-OF-THREE has been nominated for a national award after turning his life around following years of homelessness and drug addiction.

Adam Howden, 48, has been named as one of 12 Changing Lives Champions Award finalists.

The awards, hosted by homeless charity Crisis and Barclays, celebrate the work of people who were previously homeless and who, against the odds, have achieved their educational or vocational goals.

Mr Howden, who lives in Bonnington, was nominated for his work as a furniture restorer in the Capital after setting up his own business - Rustic Restorations - almost 18 months ago.

He said: "I was quite gobsmacked when I found out I was one of the finalists. I felt quite humbled.

"I would be very proud if I won, it seems a bit unreal just now."

Mr Howden's current situation is a far cry from that in 2007, when he became extremely ill.

Years of drug-taking had taken its toll on his body and he spent a year in and out of the Royal Infirmary.

Lothian and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP) opened at just the right time and he went into rehab for three months between September and November 2007.

Mr Howden then worked hard to complete several training courses, building business skills and fighting deep depression, until he felt confident to cope with the pressures of running a business.

He received 2000 from Crisis Changing Lives last year to buy the necessary tools and get his business off the ground, and received almost 3000 this year.

Mr Howden, who was nominated in the Business Awards category, said: "There is no way I could have got the money together to buy the tools I needed and to get started. The Changing Lives grant made a huge difference.

"It's taken a long time, at least a couple of years, for my head just to come back to some sense of normality, and that's why I'm very grateful for all the support I have had."

Crisis, in partnership with Barclays, established The Changing Lives national grant scheme, which offers bursaries to fund training courses, tools for work, or business start-ups.

Chief executive of Crisis, Leslie Morphy, said: "For eight years we have worked tirelessly to award over 1614 grants, helping single homeless people gain the skills and confidence they need to achieve their educational and vocational goals. Every one of the recipients in 2010 has shown huge dedication in achieving their objectives and, in partnership with Barclays, we are very proud to celebrate their achievements."

Mr Howden added: "I'm starting to feel very positive about the future, things are going really well and I'm very happy."