There is help out there – and it saved my life.
A man from Wigan has praised the support he received from organisations in Wigan, including Groundwork, that he says helped save his life.
Sait is 21 and originally from Wirral. After an argument with his family left him homeless, he was forced to sleep on friends’ sofas. But he soon began to run out of places to stay as offers of help began to dry up.
I was left out in the streets. I felt like I had no-one, nowhere to go, no family, no friends and no future. I thought it was the end of my life.
In desperation, Sait approached Wigan Council for help. They were able to arrange emergency accommodation for him. A network of organisations then began working together to provide the support Sait needed to get his life back on track.
Taking the first steps
Sait had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, which he was managing through medication. But the trauma of being homeless was causing him huge anxiety and he stopped taking his medication. Greater Manchester’s Mental Health Team provided urgent support and after a stay in hospital, Sait also arranged regular counselling. Riverside Housing worked with Sait to assess his needs arrange suitable accommodation. Once he had his own tenancy, Groundwork provided funding for things like a fridge, cooker and window blinds.
Sait says: “Suddenly everything changed. I realized that there were people who were there to help me.”
This amazing upturn in Sait’s life soon got even better. Whilst staying at the homeless hostel, Sait, being very polite and courteous by nature, used to say hello each day to the security staff who looked after the site. This got to the point where he would often stop and chat to them. Sait began to develop a real interest in the work they did. One day whilst chatting, one of the guards introduced Sait to the owner of the security company, Darren Pendleton. Darren was really impressed by Sait’s manners and demeanor, as well as his obvious interest in security. Over the coming weeks Darren began to have regular chats with Sait.
Darren says: “Sait had something about him. He was honest, he was polite and he was interested in what other people had to say. It was clear that Sait wanted to do something with his life. I decided to do what I could to help him.”
A job offer
Darren’s company, CPS Security agreed to pay for Sait to undertake the SIA qualification he needed to pursue a career in security. Groundwork arranged Sait’s travel to Lancashire. This was paid for out of the NHS funded DTOC programme, that aims to provide key support for individuals as they return back into the community. With Darren as his mentor, Sait passed his security exams, achieving a high pass mark. This led to Sait being offered a job by CPS Security and he is still working in the security industry today.
Colin Greenhalgh, Groundwork Director of Employment and Skills says: “Sait is a great example of how organisations from the public, voluntary and third sector in Wigan can work together to find the best possible support and solution for each individual.”
I feel blessed to have received such amazing support.
Sait says: “I feel blessed to have received such amazing support. I’ve gone from being jobless and homeless to having a full-time job I enjoy. I feel like a proper responsible adult now. I have my own accommodation and pay all my own bills. I’m really proud of myself and hope that my story can inspire other people who are in a difficult situation to never give up.”
The future looks brighter
Sait’s amazing journey doesn’t end there. He has since gone on to repair his relationship with his family. He is currently learning to drive and is looking forward to a positive future.