Ever wondered how the newspaper gets to you? It used to be my job to know. At 17, I worked full-time in a printing factory in Ireland. I used to do all sorts; organising the daily dispatch, fixing the equipment when it broke, topping up the ink. But a few years later, they upgraded the machines. It turned out the newer models needed less manpower. I ended up redundant and moving to London.
Since moving all those years ago, I’ve struggled to find permanent work. Issues with addiction and a relationship breakdown left me homeless a few years back and this time last year I still lived in a hostel.
So what changed?
Last July, my housing support worker referred me to Beam. I wanted to work in construction but at that point hadn’t stopped using drugs. We all agreed I needed to look at this first. With the support of some amazing people - including my kids - I’ve been clean for nearly 6 months now and recently moved into my own flat! Now I’m raring to get back to work.
Running the diggers on construction sites is a trade I have some experience in. But I need to complete two courses to get the confidence and skills to take that final step back into the workplace.
With your help, I’ll be building a better future for me and my family.