A Belfast woman who was addicted to drugs for a decade has completed a psychology degree and will soon start work with the Belfast Trust's mental health team, after support from the charity Start 360.

Rebecca Marno, aged 28, first engaged with the charity while serving a probation order and in active addiction. She later volunteered with its Change Programme, a service based on social identity theory, which examines how group membership shapes behaviour.

Marno said she has been sober for three years and holds a diagnosis of Complex PTSD. She shared her story with north Belfast boxer Carl Frampton for his documentary series On Probation.

Start 360 offers recovery programmes, trauma talks, mentoring and advocacy from offices inside Maghaberry, Magilligan and Hydebank prisons, as well as at its William Street base in Belfast. The charity is funded by the Public Health Agency, the Department of Justice, and Hagan Houses.

Business Development Director Frankie McCausland said people with lived experience of addiction bring perspectives that cannot be taught in a classroom. She stated that clients see those individuals as a source of hope and an example of what can be achieved.

Service manager Johnny Moore, who himself received mentoring, said the charity works to break down external stigmas and the internal judgements people face. He described the services as welcoming, accepting and understanding.

Evaluation data shows that 95 per cent of people who use Start 360's services report better outcomes for their mental health and are more likely to engage. McCausland said more consistent multi-year funding would strengthen the work being done.