Start a new life

Location: Telford, West Midlands
Job title: Retail assistant

“When I was unemployed, stuff just seemed to get out of hand. I was homeless and desperately unhappy with my life, so it’s little wonder getting a job wasn’t at the top of my list. At that time I couldn’t see a way out, so I thought about my options and wondered who would miss me if I wasn’t here."

“When I started Flexible New Deal I thought it would be the same as the other back-to-work programmes I’d been on, but this time things were different. I had a great caseworker called Mel who went along with me to local homeless centres to help me find a place to live. Mel said that finding me a job was our goal, but we needed to sort some other things standing in my way. Mel even found a drop-in health centre that I could visit if it all got too much."

“Within a few weeks I was given a place in shared accommodation with the Stay Project. I worked hard to show them that I’d be able to run my own home and within three months I was offered a one bedroom flat to rent. I also visited the doctor, who gave me medication to help me stabilise my health. With somewhere to live and feeling better I enrolled on a mentoring service, which to my surprise was a great support and helped me deal with some of my problems."

“In the same week that I moved into my new flat, Mel organised a four-week work placement for me at Asda Living. I worked my socks off. All I wanted was a chance to show them that I was hard working. Before the end of the placement they offered me the job – result!"

“I’ve been in work just over a year and life is much better. I’d go as far as saying that I’m doing well.

“I’ve begun setting new goals for myself and hope to move into a house soon. Next month I start my Asda supervisor training course. My supervisor says that he believes I have real potential."

“So when I get ready for work each day and give myself the last check over in the mirror, I don’t see Alex, the boy who once thought about taking his own life, but Alex, the man who’s starting a new one.”