Danny, a recovery guide for Ingeus’ North East Commissioned Rehabilitative Services, explains how he uses movement, cold water therapy and lived experience to help men on probation break the cycle of reoffending.
Plunging into freezing cold water might sound extreme, but cold water therapy has become one of the most powerful tools I use to help the lads I support – and it surprised me how much it helped me, too.
It’s grown in popularity for a reason; cold exposure triggers a physiological response that some people find invigorating, and emerging research suggests cold-water immersion may have benefits for stress and wellbeing.
My first experience with cold water therapy was planned after trying it out for my own personal wellbeing. I completed accredited training on shock response, tides, currents and safety. A lad expressed interest so after discussing it with my manager and getting the right permissions in place, I started using it as an optional wellbeing tool with participants. After just two minutes, cold water can provide a natural serotonin spike, and hearing the lads saying later they feel unreal makes it all worth it.
For three years, I’ve worked for Ingeus to support men in recovery through fitness, boxing, cold water therapy, and wellbeing walks, giving them space to breathe, talk, and push past their perceived limits. Working for Ingeus has given me the platform to do this every day – a role where my lived experience isn’t just understood, it’s valued.
Ingeus funded and supported me through a personal training qualification to enhance the way I work with participants. The role also gives me the freedom to explore new approaches, and when I discuss an idea with my manager we see if it could help the lads.
My story and why I do this
I didn’t grow up around wellbeing; I grew up around alcoholism and violence and that setting led to drugs, drinking, and trouble. Even after moving to Newcastle with a responsible job, I lived a double life – juggling duty by day and drinking at night. Alcoholism was my only coping mechanism.
Eight years ago, a single incident made everything snap into focus, and I realised I needed out. I’ve been clean ever since. Traditional recovery didn’t work for me; I still wanted to drink and felt angry at the world. I had to dig deep and pull myself out. It’s what eventually led me to Ingeus – a role in which my past wasn’t a barrier to employment but a strength that could help others. My lived experience shapes how I work: meeting lads where they are, without talking down to them, showing them change is possible.
Rebuilding through sport
Sport rebuilt my life. Sitting behind a desk never worked for me; I’m a doer. Boxing teaches discipline and lads show up full of bravado, but ten minutes in the ring strips all that back and gives them structure and focus.
The wins make it worth it. One lad addicted to crack, cocaine, heroin, and cannabis started staying clean two days before every gym session with me just to show up properly. Now he’s clean, has his own gym membership, and texts me about supplements. Another friend who struggled with alcoholism now trains regularly and makes better choices. If I help one in a hundred, it’s worth it.
Finding balance on the move
Movement keeps me steady. With my ADHD diagnosis, I can't sit still; even when injured, I walk 15 to 20 miles a day. When I’m focused on helping these lads, I’m at my best. Exercise saved my life.
I don’t enjoy talking about myself, but if seeing someone who made it through the other side helps even one person realise they can change, telling my story is important. If my journey shows anything, it’s that the right role, like the one I found at Ingeus, can turn your past into purpose.
