Hello, I'm Valeriia. I've recently arrived in the UK from Ukraine, under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, and am currently living with a host family. I'm a mum to a wonderful 13-year-old daughter and we're both trying to adjust to our new life here. I have a visual impairment which can make things a bit challenging, but I don't let it hold me back. I love to run and swim, and I take part in park runs every Saturday. It's a great way to meet people and it helps me manage my mental health too.
Back in Ukraine, I used to work as a sports massage therapist. I loved my work, and despite my visual impairment, I was good at it. I want to continue doing what I love here in the UK, but I need to improve my qualifications. I'm interested in getting a Level 3 Sports Massage Therapy qualification, but the cost is quite high. I'm also looking into getting a laptop, which would help me to apply for jobs after completing my course.
Knowing that there are people out there who want to support me in achieving my goal makes me feel incredibly grateful. I'm excited about the prospect of launching my Beam donations page and I can't wait to start my own massage service. In two years' time, I hope to have a place where I can live with my daughter and run my business. Achieving this goal with Beam would make me feel more confident and enable me to start a new life in England. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.