If you spend a day with Lee, you’ll quickly see that his job is about much more than tackling addiction, it’s about helping people take back control of their lives.
Lee works as a Substance Use Support Worker with Concrete’s SPHERE service, which supports people in Stoke-on-Trent who are using psychoactive substances, often known locally as monkey dust.
The SPHERE service is built on a simple belief: everyone deserves a home, no matter where they are on their journey. From there, people can start to rebuild, and that’s where Lee comes in.
What SPHERE does and how Lee fits in
Lee’s role is all about support that meets people where they’re at. Some customers aren’t ready to stop using yet, and that’s okay, SPHERE provides them with safe housing and consistent support. Then, when they’re ready to take that next step, Lee helps them access specialist services, whether that’s through CDAS (Community Drug and Alcohol Service), rehab programmes, or health appointments.
He supports people across our 24/7 schemes and in the community, checking in regularly, helping them deal with issues before they spiral, and working closely with the wider team to make sure no one slips through the cracks.
“If the team spots someone struggling or starting to isolate, I’ll step in and offer support,” Lee explains. “Sometimes it’s a chat, sometimes it’s helping with appointments or just being a steady face, they can rely on.”
The journey to stability
For many customers, their journey with SPHERE starts in one of Concrete’s 24/7 schemes. From there, they might move into shared accommodation, and eventually into their own home when they’re ready to manage their tenancy independently.
Lee’s part in that journey is to walk beside them, not to force change, but to help them find reasons to want it. “I try to help people fill their lives with purpose again,” he says. “Instead of just focusing on coming off the drugs, we work on building a life where they don’t feel the need to use anymore.”
That might mean supporting with health needs, probation, benefits, or even just helping them reconnect with hobbies and routines that make life feel worth living.
A people person through and through
Lee didn’t plan to end up in this line of work. He used to be a gymnastics coach, then worked for JCB. But through all of his jobs, one thing stayed the same, he loved working with people. “I kind of fell into this role,” he admits with a grin. “But I realised pretty quickly this is what I’m meant to do.”
He says the unpredictable nature of the job keeps him on his toes. “You never know what you’re walking into,” he says. “But that’s what I love about it. I thrive under pressure, it’s when people need you most.”
Seeing people thrive again
For Lee, the best part of the job is seeing people move forward. “Getting someone to a point where they’re ready to live independently, that’s what it’s all about,” he says. “Seeing them out there managing their own place, starting to thrive… there’s no better feeling.”
Every day, Lee and the SPHERE team prove that progress doesn’t happen overnight; it happens through patience, consistency, and genuine care.
Because at Concrete, we believe everyone deserves a chance to build something better, and with people like Lee in their corner, they’ve got the support they need to do just that.
Find out more about SPHERE here
