The biggest motivation I have is my kids. Even when I’m low, I know that I have to do right by them. Part of the reason I want to become a family support worker is to help other young mums. I can show them that being a single mum doesn’t mean you can’t be a great parent.
I became homeless after my mum kicked me out in 2016. I had to go into emergency accommodation for 6 months with my two children. It only had one room and it was a scary place to live sometimes. Things got better when I was referred to St Mungo’s. We were given a flat of our own with enough space. We'll have to move on eventually, but it’s given me the chance to make plans for the future.
I’ve tried my hardest to get into training and work but kept hitting a wall. I have studied on free courses and taken jobs in retail, but childcare costs meant I was spending more than I earned. Funding a BTEC Diploma through Beam will let me find better paid, more flexible work in a job that I enjoy.
This qualification will also help me to apply to university in the future. When I'm financially stable, I want to keep studying and become a nurse. Nurses do such amazing work and there's a big demand for the role. So it’s not just this one course but the route to a new life - with a great job and the freedom to chose where we live. Most of all, being able to give my kids every opportunity.
For personal reasons Susana has chosen to use a pseudonym rather than her real name.