My dream is to have a financially stable job, my own place and to be able to fly my children over from Nigeria so that we can be together. I want to progress in life and doing this training will enable me to achieve that!
I first became homeless in 2014. Ironically, it was because I started working full time which meant that my benefits were reduced. My landlord wasn't happy with that and preferred that I didn't work so that my rent could be fully paid by housing benefits. He evicted me from the property and I ended up sleeping on the streets of London for months. It was a very sad and difficult experience, having nowhere to go and no money. I ended up losing my job and had nothing but the clothes on my back.
I was referred to The Women Day Centre Marylebone Project in 2015 and they gave me a 14 day emergency bed. They then offered me temporary accommodation where I still live now. During this time, I worked as a health care assistant in the NHS supporting patients who were immobile. In the end, the job was too physically demanding for me so I had to leave.
Meeting and helping people makes me happy which is why I want to work as a receptionist or secretary. I am currently volunteering as a receptionist and I'm really enjoying it.
Back in 1992, I worked as a receptionist in a security office and one of the secretaries offered to teach me shorthand. She took me to a learning centre where I trained to become a secretary. I ended up working as an admin assistant in a school and it was a very good job! It was a long time ago and I did everything on a typewriter back then. I really need to up-skill, which is why I am really looking forward to this training, particularly the audio typing and writing modules. I have also visited the training provider and can't wait to start there as I really like the people I met!
