The past few years have been some of the toughest I’ve faced. I was a mechanic for 22 years, but COVID meant that I lost my job and eventually my home - where I’d lived for 15 years - and ended up sleeping on the streets. Thankfully, I was able to get some support and move into my own flat, which has given me a lot more stability, but I still want to get back into work. I’ve got bills to pay and I want to have a focus in life; I want something to give me purpose when I wake up in the morning.
Long term, I want to work with young people and children who are struggling with their mental health, or who have been impacted by the criminal justice system in some way. I want to use my own experience for good, and stop others going down the path I did when I was younger, so I’m doing a course on child safeguarding and mental health support at the moment.
In the meantime, I’m looking to get into a job that can help me make ends meet, and allow me to treat my daughter and grandson from time to time. It's been a challenging journey, but I'm hopeful for the future and determined to find something meaningful and fulfilling.