Today we talk to Eddie Blaze, general manager at Emmaus College, an independent charity

WHAT I’M CALLED: Eddie Blaze.

MY AGE IN YEARS: 43.

WHAT I DO: I am the general manager at Emmaus Oxford, which is an independent charity. We are a community of 28 ex-homeless men and women, staff and volunteers that is based in Cowley. We run a social enterprise consisting of two shops, in Cowley and Marston, from where we sell furniture, white goods, bric-a-brac and all sorts of exciting stuff that is donated by the kind people of Oxfordshire. Everyone living with us has to sign off benefits and works in our stores, the income from which helps to fund our work. It’s an amazing place that not only helps people get their lives back on track but helps the environment by reusing household goods and reducing landfill.

WHERE I LIVE: Carterton, West Oxfordshire l WHO I LOVE: My wife, Kath, and children Vinnie, five and Poppy, three and a lot of other people, too numerous to mention. Hopefully, they know who they are because I show them.

HAPPIEST YEAR: 2014? I’d like to think my happiest year is still to come.

DARKEST MOMENT: My darkest moments have been during ten years of drug addiction and a period of being homeless in my late teens. I lost my two closest friends and six other friends to drugs and I got into a real mess. I believe that in those darkest moments the light is easiest to see. It was only when things in my life got really bad that I realised I needed to change, so in some ways my darkest moments have been the most illuminating. I think that we learn more about ourselves in the bad times, than when everything is going easy for us. These ‘darkest moments’ have also guided me to my current career and my personal experiences help greatly with my work.

PROUDEST BOAST: Overcoming addiction 15 years ago and trying to help others do the same ever since by working with people who have suffered homelessness and all the issues that surround it.

BIGGEST REGRET: I don’t regret anything I’ve done as it’s made me who I am today. I do, however, regret a lot that I haven’t done, including not travelling the world before having children, not learning to fly a plane and never learning to play the guitar. I also always wanted to be a spaceman.

WORST WEAKNESS: A strong dislike of any form of physical exercise.

LESSON LEARNED: Never give up on yourself or anyone else. Anyone can change, at any time. It’s never too late.

DULLEST JOB: Before joining Emmaus Oxford I spent three years as a business development officer. I spent the majority of my time writing tenders, which was more interesting than it sounds but still my dullest job.

GREATEST SHAME: Nothing I am willing to put into writing.

LIFE-LONG HERO: To me, my dad will always be the greatest, strongest, most intelligent person I’ve ever known. Most of the interests I pursue today come directly from his influence. He was, and always will be, my hero. If I can be to my kids a fraction of what he was to me I’ll be happy.

OLDEST FRIEND: My sister Monica, we’ve been friends since I was born.

WIDEST SMILE: Being greeted on the doorstep by Vinnie and Poppy when I get home.

FAVOURITE DREAM: Ones when I can fly or I know that I’m dreaming.