Looking back, I was very sporty as a child. I ran track and field for Milton Keynes Athletics club and represented my school teams. I also used to love playing for various football clubs in Wolverton, Stoney Stratford, and Newport Pagnell.
But everything changed in 2020. I became homeless, and that was just the beginning of a dark time. While I was living on the streets, I was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. I still live with multiple long-term injuries from that day. After the accident, I found myself being moved from one hotel to another by the council. It was overwhelming – I had just come out of the hospital, and instead of recovering, I was being shuffled from place to place. At one of those hotels, I was even jumped.
In the space of just two weeks, I lost my home, I was seriously injured in a hit-and-run, and I was attacked while trying to rest and recover. That’s when Connection Support stepped in. They found me in 2022, still living in a hotel, and that was the turning point. Since then, they’ve made a huge difference in my life and have supported me every step of the way.
They helped me find a stable place to live, somewhere I could finally call home. After years of feeling like I was stuck in survival mode, I had a roof over my head and someone to help me get things in order. Because of my accident, my memory has been affected significantly. My caseworker has supported me with keeping track of appointments, bills, rent payments – just everyday things that became really difficult to manage. Their support helped me rebuild my life, piece by piece.
My injuries are still a concern today, as I am still going through a lot of medical tests and treatments to this day. But mentally and emotionally, I’m in a completely different place. My mental health has improved a lot. I’ve cut down on alcohol and started making better choices for myself.
The encouragement I’ve had from my caseworkers has made a huge difference. They helped me rebuild my confidence. A few years ago, I couldn’t see a future for myself. Now? I’m part of the Brighter Futures group with Connection Support, their client advisory board. I’m even thinking about starting an accounting course soon. I try to get out every day, meet new people, and stay active in my community.
What I’m most proud of? Honestly, the fact that I’m still here. I went through so much in such a short amount of time, and I survived it. I’ve paid off my rent arrears, and I’m happy to have a little bit of extra money coming in. I can now prioritise my other arrears, and I’m so proud of the fact that I’m so close to getting permanent housing.
I never thought I’d be in this position – feeling hopeful, proud, and looking forward to the future. But here I am.
