‘Hot chocolate helped me beat drug addiction’

“Christmas was just another day when I was in that life, it wasn’t a celebration,” says Abbie.

As a recovering addict, she says in the past the festive season meant trying to make sure she had enough drugs to last until Boxing Day.

“There were no drug dealers on Christmas Day.”

Now, she is one of a group of people who work at cafe Chocolate & Co – a charity that creates employment opportunities for people who struggle with addiction and offending.

The organisation was founded by York mum and daughter, Linda Barrie and Mariah Pape, after they lost two close friends to addiction.

Some of the people who work at the hot chocolate cafe have credited the charity with saving their lives.

For Abbie, this December marks a change from her previous life.

“This is the first year when I’m like ‘it’s nearly Christmas, I’m going to get my decorations up’,” she says.

“Christmas used to be about getting enough drugs to last you, there is no Christmas dinner, no presents, no family, no nothing.

“This year is going to be different, it’s good, I’m looking forward to it.”

She is learning to drive and preparing to start a new job, after a stint working for the cafe.

“My self esteem when I first started was rock bottom, I thought these guys had an ulterior motive, why are they offering me a job?” she says.

“I did six weeks of paid employment here. Which was massive for me. To start with, it wasn’t easy, but I started to enjoy coming here. I enjoyed the routine – I have never had routine before.

“This is the first time I have had an adult life. It can be tricky – but I wouldn’t go back.”

Abbie’s colleague Harriet works as a supervisor at the hot chocolate cafe and says it has provided a crucial step in her recovery.

The 27-year-old says: “Life had gotten pretty bleak, I was in a dark place and I couldn’t get myself out of it. I was fired from my job, I wasn’t able to stay in my house, I had lost everything.

“I was hanging on by a thread and I had got to a point where I thought if I didn’t stop, I was going to die.

“One day I just decided enough was enough.”

She finished treatment at a rehab centre but says she did not know where to turn next.

“A friend told me about Choc & Co, I came in to chat to Linda and Mariah and instantly knew I was in the right place.”

She says last Christmas she went into “tunnel vision” to help her stay sober during the early stages of her treatment.

This will be Harriet’s second Christmas in recovery and she says she feels more confident that the cafe’s support will help.

“I’m proud of how far I have come,” she says.

“I couldn’t ask for a better support network than here.

“I didn’t think I would live past 25 and I certainly didn’t want to, so now I’m feeling my way around this situation. It’s brilliant, I live in the day and that works for me.”

Chocolate & Co was highlighted at the BBC Make a Difference Awards in September, with the charity winning the community group award for people who have helped to change the lives of others.

Co-founder Mariah dedicated the achievement to the charity’s staff and volunteers.

“We’re really proud of everyone who makes Chocolate & Co the brilliant, caring place that it is,” she says.

“Harriet and Abbie’s achievements are incredible, they’re an inspiration to all of us.”