1: PLEASE TELL US HOW YOU CAME TO KNOW ABOUT UAA On tenth month of 2023 I was sited in a charity organisation for the homeless when a volunteer and a friend for the charity approached me on the bench. She politely intervened to share a form of help because I did look in despair. She introduced me to get to know UAA after small chat. A day later I did put efforts to explore more and finally knew UAA as another nearby charity organisation in the community that offer support to those in need.
2: PLEASE TELL US BRIEFLY ABOUT YOUR SITUATION BEFORE YOU CAME TO UAA. A month and half before October of 2023 I was already in devastating, dangerous and isolating situation before I knew or came to UAA. I’d been in pursuit for any assistance I could get for the reasons I lacked a secure place to live, food and other personal needs. I faced the difficulties back then before I came to know UAA for I was facing homelessness.
3: PLEASE TELL US HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN SUPPORTED BY OR PARTICIPATING WITH UAA Being around UAA as needful person for some time and throughout I have realised that sense of family and friendliness through their support I have gained in the period. On my hand, I have assisted the community through UAA in the small ways I am capable of. I have been with UAA in supporting the community in well being through physical exercise. We’ve been together in support for now nearly eight months.
4: PLEASE TELL US HOW UAA HELPED YOU WITH YOUR SITUATION (WHAT UAA DID OR IS DOING FOR YOU) UAA has partly assisted me in ways which I’m grateful for. I have had access to their meals for survival and also being in their welcoming warm space where I be productive and learn anything .UAA has been providing mental health counselling services and group online on weekly basis where I could join in whenever felt I needed assistance .I have had some cloth donations from UAA over the past winter season, I was involved in few of their charitable community events along the year and some supported journeys out of town in the time have been with them. I remember a one-time escapade with community to Cambridge town for museum visits, also a visit to six fields stadium for games watching, journey to Milton Keynes for exposure all courtesy of UAA charity. Finally, through getting myself involved to helping with community well being through UAA and in return I have also received micro-funding for small needs to keep me going.
5: PLEASE GIVE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUPPORT ANN, MUCHIE, PEDRO, TRISH (UAA ADMINISTRATORS) They are all such kind hearts and important people in the community. They’ve been all my long time leaders and helpers working in the UAA organisation that I have been looking up to for any support, assistance and also learning from them. They have been there to oversee my concerns and also in terms of the type of support I have received is that they are willing to do anything to help out. They have done their best parts in contributing to my situation in whatever efforts of which I am forever grateful. May they be blessed.
My name is JCM and I came to the UK after selling my residential stand to raise money for a Certificate of Sponsorship. I am a single mother of 2 who was struggling to make ends meet in Zimbabwe therefore when the opportunity to come to the UK presented itself, I decided to sell the only asset I had to raise the money. Unfortunately, on arrival to the UK I discovered that the company that had sponsored me was struggling to provide employment to its candidates. Just after New Year, I received an email from my sponsor advising that their sponsor licence had been suspended and eventually was revoked. I felt like a total failure and overnight I was destitute. A well-wisher provided me with accommodation for 1 month and because the sponsor advised me on arrival that they could not provide accommodation for me and at the same time could not provide employment as initially promised. I was now in a situation where I could not contribute towards rent, food, or toiletries and felt like a burden to the people providing accommodation for me. I felt alone and terrified. Talking to fellow Zimbabweans about my predicament, I was made aware of United African Association and the support they are giving to people in the same situation that I am. I contacted UAA around Christmas time and at this stage, I was contemplating giving up and going back to Zimbabwe, a failure. In the quest to secure another sponsor, I was referred to someone who had advertised for carers. I started working 12hrs a day, 7 days a week with an understanding that I was going to be offered a switch. However, at the end of I was told that the service user was only paying £800 per therefore 2 staff doing long days and working nights were going to share £500 between us. This meant, instead of getting paid 84 hrs per week x £11 giving £924, we were paid £250 per week. My well-wishers said this was similar to modern day slavery and I resigned When I contacted UAA, the person who answered my call sounded very friendly and reassured me promising that I had called the right people to help me with situation. Because I was living with well-wishers, UAA managed to place me with another well-wisher in Northampton and they have been providing us with food parcels every Saturday. I have stayed with Northampton well-wisher for 9 months. I was shocked to find that I could get food parcels that comprises of ingredients that meet my normal diet, all for free. I started volunteering at the Food Bank and soon realised that I was not the only one in the same situation. Talking to people in the same situation gave me hope and reassurance that I was not alone. I also started attending the Monday online Mental Health sessions where different topics that affect foreigners like me are discussed. These sessions have been really helpful because I was getting depressed and I began to feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel. UAA has been signposting me to different alternative sponsors and job adverts. I feel so indebted to UAA as a whole, because without them, I would have suffered a total breakdown. I am also proud to say that I have found a new sponsor, and they are currently processing my visa.
