Ex-offender's journey of getting a second chance

"I [stayed] determined - I knew I wouldn't be down in that situation for long."

Devon, who lives in Oxfordshire, is describing how he found himself homeless and slept rough for six weeks after leaving prison.

But he survived thanks to skills he had learned in the Armed Forces, found a job and now is one of the people taking part in the 99th BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal.

It was a difficult situation "mentally", he said, adding: "But I turned it around to be the best for me now."

Devon said he had been promised a place to stay after coming out of prison.

"[It] didn't work out for me, so I had to be sleeping rough and started to sleep on the road."

Supported by local organisation Aspire Oxford, he said he was able to find temporary accommodation before moving to his own independent flat.

Another big step in his journey so far has been getting a job at a recycling centre, where he is now an area manager.

Devon said that "plays a big part in my life".

"I came out [of prison] in 2021 and I went to the skip to dump some rubbish.

"I asked for a job, they said I have to go through the agency."

But Devon said he insisted on having a conversation with the manager who then asked him to come back the following Tuesday.

"I turned up on Monday, so he asked me why," said Devon. "I said to him: 'Monday is the start of the week. I want a job.'."

Before the manager could read his CV, Devon said he took it back and ripped it up, telling him: 'I just came out of prison, I need a job. If you give me this job, I won't let you down."

W&S Recycling "gives more than [a] second chance", said Devon of the company. "It really works out for ex-offenders.

"If someone is in trouble, they don't have to go prison, they come and do time there as work and we take them on as well."

At his lowest point, Devon said he had felt he "did not want to be here".

"Now I want to serve a purpose here.

"Since this happened, last week two customers come up to me, shaking my hand and said: 'I put money towards you, it is a good job you do.'

"It made me feel so great, it made me feel I want to do more, to inspire people out there, who think they are down, they can be up as well."

Devon said he "really appreciated" being given the "opportunity to be who I am", adding: "It's all down to Aspire and W&S.

His participation in the Christmas Appeal is with St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, raising money to help people find and keep a safe place to call home.

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