A FORMER gaming addict who was spending 18 hours a day in front of the computer at his lowest point has turned his life around after receiving help from a community group.

Jason Smith, of Warrington Road, Leigh, was living in a bedroom at his mother’s house for eight years with him failing to leave the house to make routine visits to the dentist and sleeping at the height of his gaming addiction.

The anxiety and depression the 46-year-old was feeling led to him stopping to interact with family and friends and he was unable to leave his house to claim benefits.

Jason said: “I was suffering from social anxiety and depression due to series of uncontrollable events in my life.

“I was extremely underweight and didn’t take care of my appearance. My hair was really long and I was in regular pain with toothache.”

Jobcentre Plus referred Jason to Leigh-based community group Joining Communities who put a plan together to address his issues.

The group, which has been given money from Wigan Council’s The Deal for Communities Investment Fund, helped Jason in a number of ways with him now volunteering full time as a classroom and peer mentor as well as signing up to do an English course.

Jason added: “I started a three-week course at Westleigh High School where I found my knowledge started to return and I began to help my peers who were struggling.

“This came as a great surprise to me as I had never thought of tutoring as a profession.

“I did not think I had the patience for it - how wrong I was.

“Towards the end of the course, I found I had cultivated a thirst for knowledge so I immediately signed on to an English course.

“I have also been asked if I would be interested in doing some peer-to-peer mentoring.

“I was elated by this request and my confidence continued to soar.

“Previously I would look at obstacles and barriers in my path, I now see challenges and learning opportunities.

“Now after only ten weeks at Joining Communities I feel like a completely different person.

“I would like to thank everyone at Joining Communities for their help and support, and hope that I can emulate their care and compassion in the future.”

Since being involved with Joining Communities, Jason’s new-found confidence led him to getting a flat of his own, working with lifestyle group Healthy Routes to stop smoking and gain weight healthily as well as making a trip to the dentist.

For more information about Joining Communities visit joiningcommunities.org.

The latest round of The Deal for Communities Investment is open for applications. To apply go to wigan.gov.uk/thedeal.