I arrived in the UK with big plans. I wanted to open my own electrical engineering company and was excited to do so in a country that I love. I'm qualified in electrotechnics and have lots of experience so I wasn't too worried about getting started. Then, just as I arrived, the pandemic began and all of a sudden I realised that it was going to be a struggle.
My housing issues began when I couldn't find work and wasn't able to keep up with the rent where I was staying. I had nowhere to go and no access to the benefits system so I slept rough for a few weeks. Eventually, Thames Reach found me and took me to a hotel that was part of the government 'Everyone In' scheme. I was grateful to not be out in the cold but as long as I was unable to find work, I couldn't access financial support. I'm in a temporary flat now but I'm still using food banks to get by.
My situation gets me down but I know that with a little support, I'll be able to get back into work. I'll be doing a security course to give me a chance at getting into that sector. In the longer term, I want to validate the electrical qualifications I gained abroad, to use here in the UK so that I can use the discipline I studied so hard for.
When my first pay cheque arrives, I'll be using it to start saving for a rental deposit but I'll also make sure to put some aside for my children, who live in Germany. Going through this process gives me hope. Once I'm able to, I'd love to give back to others who are in need.
