I have sometimes struggled to get help in the past, but I’ve learned to be patient. I know that help always comes at the right time, when you truly need it. I am a single dad living with my four children between 8 and 17 years old, and in the last few years I have had a difficult and drawn-out separation from my children’s mother. Since 2014, I have spent thousands of pounds in legal fees, and countless hours in court to protect my children. However a few years ago it just all got too much, and in 2019 I lost my job, and the family home as a result.
Since then, I have been on the streets, in B&Bs, and in sheltered accommodation and it has been really hard. After reaching out to my MP, the council has helped me with accommodation for me and my 4 children. Unfortunately though, as I am benefit capped and our property is too expensive, the council are planning to relocate us over 100 miles away to the Midlands. I really want the chance to stay in London, as my children are all settled in their schools and my mum is critically ill, so I need to stay nearby to her. Once I find a job and lift the benefit cap, then we can hopefully stay here in London and I can make sure my Mum is well supported.
I have done many jobs before, and I am open-minded and flexible about the work I do right now. However, in the long-run I would love to develop my skills a bit further with an IT or Project Management course or maybe even have a legal career one day. To use my lived experience to help others affected by legal problems would be incredible.