Before she found support through Wirral Ways and the Discovery Academy, Tara was in a dark place—physically and emotionally.
Watch Tara’s Story here: https://youtu.be/wz0BgxnWadM
“I was very, very, very poorly,” she explains. “I’d already been through a coma, two long hospital stays… I was close to death twice, really.”
It was only after her second discharge from hospital that Tara was referred to Wirral Ways. That’s when she discovered the Pre-Academy programme—and her journey began.
“I worked hard to get to the Academy,” she says, “and honestly, it’s changed my life. It’s helped me understand why I was in addiction, why I kept myself so unwell, and why I couldn’t see a way out.”
Through the Academy, Tara didn’t just find recovery—she found herself.
“Before, I was lost. But now, I’ve come out of my shell. I’m happy. I understand what put me there in the first place. I’m more outgoing. More confident. And just so, so grateful.”
Tara says the journey hasn’t always been easy. For her, the hardest part was taking an honest look inward.
“The biggest challenge? Facing myself. Once the substance is gone, the behaviours don’t just disappear. That’s where the real work begins—challenging those patterns, working on yourself, and finding new ways to live. That’s what will keep you well.”
But through that challenge came connection.
“The best thing about the Academy? The people. I’ve met the most amazing people—friends for life. People who get me. And the facilitators… I can’t thank them enough.”
Now, Tara has a clear goal for her future: to give back.
“I didn’t go through all of that for nothing. My dream is to pass this on—to help someone else who’s still suffering. I hope I can do for them what others did for me.”
Last Updated on 18 August 2025