©InfoJason Marshall has lived through drug addiction, homelessness and prison, but now – helped by the Red Cross – he’s getting his life back on track as a first aid volunteer.
Jason signed up as a volunteer after the Red Cross provided first aid training at the Portsmouth hostel where he currently lives. The Red Cross is visiting several homeless hostels in the area so that vulnerable residents can learn to help and support each other.
Jason (36) was immediately drawn to the Red Cross project. He recalled: “You do feel very marginalised as a ‘homeless person’ and feel like you have nothing to offer society. So when the Red Cross came along and said we could learn life-saving skills, it was a really positive thing. And it’s a great project.”
First aid knowledge
The course has made a huge difference those who got involved. Jason said: “When you’re living on the streets, you do come across more situations where people have overdosed or had bad falls from drinking too much. But if you have the knowledge to help people, you maybe won’t have such a negative experience.
“I’ve seen situations where people didn’t have the right skills and couldn’t be of any help – and I know some who have actually watched people die because they didn’t know what to do. To reach these groups with first aid gives them a lot of security.”
‘Unique organisation’
Following the course, Jason is now busily involved in his local community and is vice chair of a local engagement forum, which monitors local health and social care services.
Looking back, he said: “If Brian, our trainer, hadn’t come to the hostel I would never have got into first aid. But the training course was the best I have ever been on, and with the Red Cross there’s a real caring ethos. It’s a unique organisation.”
Although he has turned a corner, life as a former addict is still a struggle. He said: “Sometimes it’s very difficult for me – some days can be a real battle – but things are getting easier not worse and that keeps me looking forward. The Red Cross is a wonderful organisation and I feel really privileged to be a part of it now, however small.”
Learn life-saving skills