As a lance bombardier for over 7 years, I travelled the world undertaking any number of the different jobs required by a life in the army. But one interest always remained: electrical wiring. I’d been ‘electrically minded’ since childhood, helping change amps for my mum at a young age, but being in the army gave me a feel for how it worked in military equipment. When I thought about life beyond the army, I always knew being an electrician would prove the best option.
I left the forces sooner than expected after my relationship failed and began struggling with mental health issues brought on by the years in service. Alcohol and drugs provided some self-medicating relief from it all...but it couldn’t hold. With nowhere to go, no job, and my alcohol use out of control, the friend I was staying with asked me to leave. In desperation, I reached out to a veterans’ charity - they agreed to pay for a ticket to London and placed me into a hostel and rehab where I’ve been ever since.
Recovery has changed my life and when I look back to where I was a year ago, I can’t believe the path I was heading down. I know becoming an electrician is my next step back to a normal life. The veterans’ charity has paid my deposit on the course but I need help funding the remainder. With your support, I know I can complete the qualification and be working in no time!