Guest Stories

Please watch our video created by Postcard Productions about the people we help, told from their perspective.

Gezim

I became homeless almost 3 years ago and went to the Red Cross for help as I was destitute with no other options. They referred me into the C4WS Winter Night Shelter, where I was able to stay for the next 28 nights.

My philosophy in life is that if someone helps you, then you have to give back.

I had started volunteering with various charities before staying at the shelter, as they had given me assistance. The same went for C4WS. It started with helping on a Friday morning to get out the tables and chairs for Friday Club. This expanded, and soon I was attending Friday Club every week and helped by wiping down the tables and chairs to put away, and just generally helping out where I could see there was a need. I did so despite the worry about where I was going to go after the shelter, as these were kind people who were helping me, and I wanted to do my best to give back to them in the only way that was open to me.

I was advised by Sam Forsdike, my Welfare Worker, to go back to the Red Cross on the morning of my last day at the shelter, as they would need to find somewhere for me to move on to. I was very grateful to receive a call later than morning from Sam, explaining that C4WS would extend my stay and that I would have three weeks after the shelter closed in a hostel.

Despite this assistance, the road from here wasn’t smooth, and I was rough sleeping for a couple of months after that, whilst looking for legal aid to take on my case. I had also not been feeling well and had gone to see the Doctor before the shelter closed. I was told that I had cancer, but that I would not be able to receive treatment until I had somewhere to stay, as I wouldn’t be able to cope on the street, as chemotherapy and radiotherapy together would be very draining.

Sam called me on 5th August 2017 to see if I would be interested in going into a hosting programme. I couldn’t believe it, I was able to stay with different hosts during the course of my treatment, and until I moved into Home Office accommodation on 10th March 2018. It had taken me four months to get the treatment I needed. I was so fortunate that the first host I stayed with was understanding and extended my stay there until it was finally complete. I have to go back for check-ups every 6 months, but thankfully these have remained clean.

As well as continuing to volunteer at Friday Club every week, where I have significantly expanded my skills from those early days of setting up the chairs and tables, to almost being able to run it myself, I also enjoyed helping out at Sunday Club. The kitchen is very much my domain!

I was invited to take part in the newly formed Steering Group as well, and have been able to make suggestions to the team on how to make positive changes at the night shelter, that will ensure C4WS is able to continue supporting guests in the future.