'From men's suits to substance misuse'

"Most drugs workers don't start their careers in retail like I did - but lots of us have made interesting journeys. When I left school I started selling suits for a mens wear concession at Burtons. I worked my way up from shop floor and became regional manager. In 2002 I helped kit all the England football team out in suits designed by David Beckham.

It sounds impressive but I wanted a change from profit and sales. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to come home buzzing everynight like my wife, who worked for NACRO. So when an opportunity for redundancy came along I took it. I started volunteering for NACRO.

That led to a paid job and then a job with DISC's community drugs outreach team in Hartlepool. It's been a big step down financially but worth it for the huge boost in job satisfaction. I'm now a senior drugs practitioner with responsibility for marketing materials for my unit. I also support colleagues who are going through training courses and I'm about to start a health and social care NVQ.

I love working for DISC. The company gives us lots of opportunities and really focusses on clients. We go the extra mile. It's not just a job. It's a vocation.