I’m a Senior Support Worker for the No Recourse to Public Funds project here at Connection Support. Our role is frontline, working with clients to help them overcome issues, resolve their immigration status and move on when ready.
No two days are alike. One day, I’m talking to an MP, the next day I’m buying a mop and a bucket and cleaning rooms. It’s just part of the job! I don’t find it tricky or beneath me. At the end of the day, I am here to help, not judge, show authority, or tell clients what to do.
I used to be an administrator for the HR team at Connection Support. The No Recourse to Public Funds opportunity came up, and I thought, “Maybe it’s time for me to change my life direction, do something different?’’ I still use my admin skills, but it’s a very different experience.
I’ve always been interested in people, what makes them tick, how to build rapport, get to know them and help. Some clients are very mistrustful; it’s understandable, they have been let down on so many levels. And like every person, they have good days and bad days. Sometimes we all have a bad day, and that’s perfectly normal. Deep down, we are all the same; we have our aspirations, that makes the job interesting.
We support clients with no right to work. Sometimes, they have been in that situation for many years, and that is a struggle they have to overcome. I have been through immigration myself, but my process was never that challenging. I was able to work. I was compelled to help those people and work with them, because it’s unfair. The trauma with some of them, what they’ve been through, is incredible.
We try to get to know the person and establish together what they need and how we can work towards that. We talk a lot, we meet a lot. Every individual has different challenges to overcome, it is not always easy. Sometimes people don’t want to let you in or are stuck in their ways. Sometimes it’s the age of the people we support. The most important thing is that we’re there to help. Challenges are part of everyday life, but nothing is impossible.
We’ve had people who are still with us since the beginning of the project and only now, just now we see a glimmer of hope that their immigration status can be resolved. It takes time. The system does not work quickly. It’s not built to be understanding, unfortunately. There are people who have applied to the Home Office, numerous times, but those applications have failed for one reason or another. For the person receiving that rejection letter, it’s the end of the world. Those people don’t want to rob somebody or receive benefits. They just want a place they can afford and a job to provide for themselves.
Even in their hour of need, people don’t ask you for much. That has been an eye opener. Just because they’re not saying anything doesn’t mean that you don’t see the pain. There was a person living in a van, and I thought “I’ll just jump on the bus and go and see how he’s doing”. It broke my heart when I saw him because he was not in a good place. I said, “what can I do for you”, and he said, “can you just buy me a cup of coffee?” It stayed with me, and it must have stayed with him. To this day he says, “you saved my life”. Somebody might say “Oh, you’re being dramatic!”, but he wouldn’t have lasted if he were to continue like that.
You always want the best for people, but at the end of the day they’re adults. You can’t take their choice away. You are hoping in time, they understand that you’re not there to harm them and only want to do what’s right by them. You just keep showing up, don’t give up.
I learned a lot about my people skills, de-escalation skills. I’ve always been an empathetic person. But seeing that first-hand, I not only sympathise, I can see the world through their eyes. I’m very grateful because, yes, life is challenging, but the most important thing is to be grateful for the little things in life. We’ve been granted another day, cherish it! Even if I have a broken zip on my jacket, I still have a coat, some people don’t have that!
Many of our clients have received status in the last year. As lovely as it is, it is also very overwhelming for those people. Can you imagine being in that situation? You haven’t seen your children and your family in 20 years? Suddenly you have the right to go and see them and come back. What do you do with yourself? It’s a feeling of euphoria and “oh my goodness, what happens to me now?” It is chaos until everything settles.
That’s the beauty of the role, the reason why we’re never bored!
Upon resolving their immigration status, clients have a certain time frame to move on from the project. Sometimes it is extra challenging when the Home Office doesn’t deliver their documentation in a timely manner. Our work together is based on communication, understanding and flexibility.
We don’t support more than 21 clients at any given time. I have about 10 to 11. It is a lovely team. I’m grateful and very lucky. The three of us, we complement each other with different blend of qualities that we bring to the table. The job is challenging, it’s important to have the right people around you. Nobody wants to be the person asking for help, but sometimes you need it. How can you support other people if nobody’s supporting you? I’m there for them and they’re there for me.
I am a sensitive person and tend to take things to heart. It has been a work in progress, finding the off button, I care immensely. Always keep your professional boundaries, we’re not friends, I am here as a support worker. I learned that in order to preserve my ability to help, I need to stop and switch off mentally. Somebody wise told me once that I need to learn to compartmentalise. When the day is done, you don’t stop caring for those people, but you need to look after yourself too. Life doesn’t stop, and you have another life outside of work.
The world is a harsh place and it’s important to be grounded, to be in the present and help each other. Maybe I’m biased, but this is one of the greatest projects at Connection Support. It has a great meaning, I’m really happy to be here. It’s such a wonderful feeling, to be there for somebody. To be there, when they have nowhere to turn and you’re able to help.
