House of Heroes - Ovis Farm House

Chris Saunders

After injecting heroin into his groin he developed septicaemia and 17 internal abscesses. But, somehow, he pulled through and was given a final chance. Before Chris stopped offending he had clocked up 176 previous convictions. Chris was sent to HMP Channing's Wood, were he joined the Therapeutic Community.
After Graduating the programme he was paroled to the House of Heroes, Ovis Farm Project, on a farm in Exmoor. After kicking his habit, he discovered a talent for welding and built a new life as an odd job man. The Prince’s Trust gave Chris a grant and loan to buy the tools of his trade and, crucially, the support of a volunteer mentor. Chris became a skilled worker and conscientious bookkeeper, with a good work ethic, so he quickly built up a steady stream of clients – a remarkable achievement for a man with 176 previous convictions.
When the farm advertised for a new programme manager, Chris seized the opportunity. In 2008 he was promoted to Project Manager and in 2010 he was promoted to General Manager in charge of over-seeing all House of Heroes Projects and houses. He’s now supporting up to 16 more men and 4 women through their own recovery programme. And even though he’s wound down his business, he’s putting his new found confidence and motivation to good use.
In 2008 he received the Princes Trust Young Achiever of the year award and again in late 2009 Chris received the Pride of Britain award for his work on national TV.
In Chris own words "I had tried everything to turn my life around all to no avail, I then encountered God in a powerful way and began a personal relationship with Jesus, this and this alone does Chris attribute his change to. Jesus saved my life and since he did he has transformed me from the inside to the outside"

Mark Nicholson

"If it wasn't for the House of Heroes I would be dead". These were the words of Mark Nicholson, when he had completed the programme at House of Heroes, Ovis Farm Project in July 2005. He had been a homeless, drug addict, living in an outside toilet on the streets of Exmouth, and had been referred to the Ovis Farm Project by the local Open Door Centre. Mark completed the programme and then moved out into the community. However, he wanted to give something back so he returned as a support worker, the job that he did for the next two years. In April 2007, he went out to Zimbabwe as he had expressed an interest in working with children in Africa. He fell in love with the people and the country, and in December 2007 returned to Bulawayo, where he started working with homeless and disadvantaged people. He met his future wife Dorcas Dhlula and in April 2009, they were married and have now taken in ten orphaned and abandoned children, between the ages of 18 months and 10 years, whom they are caring for in a loving Christian home. Mark says that although things are difficult living in Zimbabwe, he knows that is where God wants him to be, and he wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Damian Murphy

If it wasn’t for House of Heroes I would either be still stuck in a City Centre hostel drinking myself into oblivion or very possibly be dead. I came to the Ovis Farm as a resident and I am now the live-in support worker. as well as being key worker to 3 men I work alongside all the residents with meetings, groups, and their paperwork. My work background has included electronics, the railways, construction and catering/hospitality. Parts of these jobs and the fact I have been there puts me in position to help them and empathise.

Paul Talbot

Paul joined us in 2008 as a homeless alcoholic, his addiction was chronic and destroying his very life. The doctor had told Paul, that if he was to continue drinking, then he would most certainly die. Paul rang House of Heroes and spoke to Chris and very soon afterwards he was interviewed. He was accepted and entered the recovery programme at the House of Heroes, Ovis Farm Project. He successfully graduated in 2009 and moved into our second stage house in Barnstaple. He sought employment and very soon found himself working full time, and in a steady relationship with his partner Sue. He attributes his change to his encounter with Jesus, while resident at Ovis Farm in 2008. He is still living successfully in the community, working and in regular contact with us and of course Jesus!

Mick Mills

Mick joined us in 2008 as a heroin addict, his addiction was chronic and destroying his very life. If Mick was at this point to continue taking heroin then he would most certainly die. Mick contacted House of Heroes and spoke to Chris and very soon afterward he was interviewed. He was accepted and entered the recovery programme at the House of Heroes Ovis Farm Project. He successfully graduated in 2009 and moved back home to his wife in Bideford. He attributes his change to the same Jesus he met at Ovis Farm in 2008. He is still living successfully in the community, working and in regular contact with us and of course Jesus. He also volunteers in the Gym at the Freedom Centre in Barnstaple

Dean Lowdon

Dean first became involved with House of Heroes as a resident in 2008. He successfully graduated the recovery programme and moved back to Newark. In early 2009 he returned to work for the House of Heroes as a support worker, and lived in the main house at Ovis Farm. In October 2009 he moved to our Resettlement Project in Barnstaple as House manager, he also commuted 4 days per week to work as a Support Worker at the Ovis Farm Project. In March 2010 Dean got married to his new wife Helen, Dean has now moved on to begin his new Window Cleaning business, "Cleaned BY Dean" and is still in regular contact with us.

Gary Yates

I started my life of crime at 8 years of age and by the time I was 12, I was a full blown junkie. I was burgling chemists to maintain my habit and I progressed through the criminal underground until 2005, when I was sentenced to 6 years for robbery and decided to change my life. I went to the Therapeutic Community in Channings Wood Prison and whilst I was there, a fellow called Chris Saunders came, and told us about House of Heroes. I was released in January 2009 and went back to Wigan. I was getting back up to my own tricks and I remembered what Chris had said about House of Heroes, so I jumped in my car and drove 300 miles and asked to be accepted on to the Ovis Farm Project programme. Since then, I have completed the course, I now have God in my life, and am training to be a support worker. My life has completely changed and it is all because of House of Heroes.