Stockport Ambassadors: Nina’s Podcast to Support the Community
Meet Nina, one of our Stockport Ambassadors!
Our Stockport Ambassador programme provides a route for people with Lived Experience to give something back, offering guidance, support, qualifications, and skills for learners to create the things they want to see in their local community.
Nina has been an ambassador in the service since August 2023 and decided to start the podcast to talk about important topics and events in Stockport aiming to both highlight the positive aspects of the community and address challenges that are being faced.
We interviewed Nina to find out more about what inspired her to start the podcast and here’s what she had to say:
I had been aware for over 10 years that I was drinking too much. It began with sparkling wine, progressed to Chardonnay, and eventually to a good quality, full-bodied Malbec.
In 2022, I was going through an extremely difficult and messy divorce. Alcohol became my crutch to numb everything I was experiencing. Over the years, I had encountered various coaches online who specialised in helping people quit alcohol, but they charged as much as £5,000. I didn’t have that kind of money to spend on myself. As a mother of two, I hadn’t realised that I had lost my identity during a very coercive and controlling marriage.
In May 2022, I finally confided in my GP that I was drinking too much and needed help but didn’t know where to turn. I had hit rock bottom and could no longer cope with the constant barrage of nasty legal letters from my ex-husband. My GP was wonderful—she was understanding and supportive in a way I hadn’t expected.
She referred me to the Stockport Drug and Alcohol Service at Cirtick House (0161 218 1100). My amazing caseworker, Hayley, offered me a selection of courses, including one with Intuitive Thinking Skills.
This course was a real lightbulb moment for me. It made sense why I had struggled to stop drinking for so many years—it was all about my subconscious mind giving me what I thought I needed to feel better. Once I’d finished the course, I completed a week-long detox as a home service user.
During our one-to-one sessions, Hayley had been incredible. She explained that I wasn’t addicted to alcohol; I chose to drink as a way to numb the pain of my marriage and its eventual breakdown.
After I was signed off by my caseworker Hayley, she informed me about the Ambassador Programme.
The Ambassador Programme is a way to give back to the Stockport community. It also offers an opportunity for those who have overcome addiction to drugs or alcohol and are now clean and sober to gain work experience, helping them move towards paid employment once again.
I started the podcast to connect with the community of Stockport and Greater Manchester on a deeper level. There are so many important topics and events in our area that often go unnoticed or unspoken. I wanted to create a platform where we can discuss not only the positive aspects, like community events and school activities, but also tackle more challenging subjects such as addiction, substance abuse, and domestic violence. It’s about giving a voice to our community and ensuring that these critical issues are addressed.
The podcast is primarily for the residents of Stockport and Greater Manchester, but it’s also for anyone who’s interested in community issues and wants to be part of meaningful conversations. You can listen to the podcast on all major streaming platforms, and we also provide links through our website, where you can book a coffee chat and get involved directly.
I want listeners to feel empowered and informed. Whether it’s learning about local events or gaining insight into the resources available for tackling serious issues, the goal is for listeners to walk away with knowledge and a sense of community. It’s also about encouraging open conversations—no topic is too taboo to discuss.
Most importantly, I hope the podcast inspires people to live fully and actively engage with the world around them because, as I always say, life is for living; it’s not a rehearsal.
Listen to Nina’s podcast here – link to Spotify.
She currently has 3 episodes out and we look forward to seeing what else she discusses.
