Uncovering a lifetime of wisdom in a secret garden

For twenty years, Tom’s life was measured in bus stops and timetables. As a driver on the local front line, he navigated more than traffic; he managed the complex and often invisible needs of hundreds of passengers every day. It was a role that demanded constant empathy and resilience, yet Tom often dismissed his own expertise, believing he could “only ever be a bus driver”.

The truth was that Tom was running on empty. Without support for his then-unrecognised neurodivergence, the high-pressure environment took its toll. When redundancy hit three years ago, the structure of his life collapsed, and his mental health began to suffer.

The missing piece

The first step toward recovery came in the form of an answer. An ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis helped Tom understand why he had felt like an outsider in his work life, even to the point of thinking that he could only work night shifts. It reframed his struggles not as failures, but as the result of a highly empathetic person working in an environment that didn’t understand his needs.

During this period, he met with a Wellbeing Coach who saw that Tom needed a safe bridge back into society that wouldn’t mirror the high-stress environment of the buses. The coach suggested he explore volunteering.

“I didn’t know where to start,” Tom recalls. Encouraged by his coach, he attended a Volunteer Fair, a bustling room full of opportunities that felt overwhelming at first. It was there that he met Amy from CAN. Amy didn’t just see a bus driver; she saw a man with 20 years of public service and a deep, untapped potential. She recommended Tom try a session with Grounded Community, a local gardening project just a 10-minute walk from his home.

A dormant inheritance

While volunteering with Grounded Community, the idea of never being more than a bus driver began to fade, replaced by something much older and deeper. Working in the soil triggered a powerful awakening, as Tom began to remember the gardening skills he had learned as a child from his grandparents.

These valuable, traditional skills are increasingly rare today. For two decades, this knowledge had sat dormant, suppressed by the noise and stress of the road. In the safety of the garden, this heritage bloomed again. Tom realised he wasn’t just a passenger in his own life; he was a custodian of knowledge.

From outsider to essential

Today, Tom has transitioned from seeking help to providing it. As a Continuity Supervisor and session facilitator, he uses his natural empathy and the skills inherited from his grandparents to help others grow. He teaches others the practical arts of growing plants and how to practise kindness and acceptance of others, in a way that suits his strengths.

“When for all your life you have felt like an outsider, knowing that there is a space where you will be included, validated & supported is everything.”

Now Tom is actively seeking paid roles in this area. But this time, he doesn’t feel like just a bus driver. He is a man who knows his value, understands his boundaries, and carries with him the quiet confidence of someone who has finally found his way home.