Mill Road Made Me: Mill Road Saved Me

By Shofiq Uddin

The story I have for you is about the power and strength of Mill Road,
for the independent Mill Road News to enjoy and potentially print.

Website editor’s note: This story is too great, too uplifting, to keep under wraps until the next (post-lockdown) printed edition.

Five years ago I had a horrendous motorbike accident, leaving me with severe head injuries. After being discharged from hospital, I was in emergency accommodation for year. Whilst I was extremely grateful for the accommodation, it was a difficult place to try to rehabilitate. I needed rehousing…

But … Big but … I’m suffering a brain injury after a motorcycle accident also an addiction from my historical past.

It all started with Donna Linsey, Tenancy Sustainment Advisor for Cambridge City Council who, herself, had previously sustained a motorcycle accident and had since worked for Headway. Because of her experience she understood my needs. I have so much to thank her for.

Website editors’ note:
The City Council’s Tenancy Sustainment service supports tenants aged 18 or over whose tenancy is (or could be) at risk due to mental health issues, local antisocial behaviour, a history of homelessness, or other complex support needs.
Click for more information on Cambridge City Council’s Tenancy Sustainment service, contact Matt Siggery, Housing Officer, Tenancy Sustainment, at matthew.siggery@cambridge.gov.uk or phone 07540 303194.

The City Council could have given me a flat anywhere, but they gave me a flat at end of Mill Road.

Mill Road? What’s in the area? … Who cares? I wanna flat I wanna get outta emergency accommodation… And it turned out to be the best place ever!

What do I see everyday? Brookfields Hospital. What’s there ?

ECHIS … Evelyn Community Head Injury Service for brain injury, at Davison House, Brookfields Hospital, Mill Road, Cambridge. Wow.

Change Grow Live (Social Care & Health Charity‎, Mill House, Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3DF) and the Edge Café …. Big brother and little sister drug addiction services. Wow.

And then the Cambridge Central Mosque was built. Wow.

Everything to recover is on my doorstep. Addiction is confronted and responsibility is owned, but still it’s a journey of recovery and now I work as a peer mentor volunteer at THE EDGE CAFÉ interviewed and trained by Change Grow Live.

From Cambridge drug dealer to healer: How Shofiq Uddin got his life back on track

My brain injury status is that I’m coping now and living an independent life thanks to the team of ECHIS.

The community at the new beautiful Cambridge Central Mosque has helped me with returning back to my Muslim identity. I know who I am now, and Prayer Leader Imam Hafiz Dr Sejad Mekić has been a tremendous inspiration to everyone who enters in the incredible mosque and me.

I now help run a youth club – which I went to as a child – for Asian Muslim youth on the street where I grew up.

We are now working with Romsey Mill Christian charity to bridge the gap between Muslim and Christian children.

And potentially will run a creative writing class for Riverside‘s Willow Walk adult shelter (near the Grafton Centre) and The EDGE Café on Mill Road.

I’m planning a 5-a-side multi-faith tournament with the help of Cambridge United Community Trust and Cambridge City Council’s Ariadne Henry – Community Development Officer (Inclusion and Engagement) – Romsey Mill and hopefully more networkers. I am also hoping to persuade Muslim restaurateurs to provide food.

For more information on participating in or supporting any of of Cambridge United Community Trust‘s activities please email communitytrust@cambridge-united.co.uk or call 01223 632129.

There is so much else I’m doing, but I’m committed to making time for this .

Mill Road has the power to help me return back to who I truly am and to where I belong. My message is to shout it out!

Mill Road has power to change lives and beautifully too!

Born on Mill Road: saved by Mill Road.

MILL RD MADE ME: MILL RD SAVED ME!