My life has been full of challenges, and I’ve had to overcome a lot to get where I am today. Growing up in an Irish Travelling community, I had a pretty unique upbringing. Though there are parts that I’m so grateful for, it also meant that I never had a formal education, so I find things like reading and writing hard, and that’s made life pretty tough.
I’ve been in prison and struggled a lot with substance abuse, which has really had an impact on my mental and physical health. I’ve got Crohn’s and COPD, which can make just day-to-day life challenging, especially being in temporary accommodation where there’s one bathroom for 12 people.
But, in spite of all of this, I feel hopeful for the future. God came to me at a time in my life when I most needed him, and I’ve had so much support from God and my Church community that I know things are only going to get better from here. Now that I’ve found a new home, I just can’t wait to get settled and begin this next chapter of my life. The future feels brighter already, and I’m so grateful to Beam for helping me get here.