I’ve lived at Emmaus Oxford for 18 months now. Every one of the staff here will help you in any way they can — Emmaus is amazing.
A Difficult Start
After leaving school at 14, I had nothing to do but hang around the house. One day, my dad asked if me and a mate wanted to go earn some money. I thought, OK, why not? — but I would often find myself in situations I was uncomfortable with. I knew my Mum didn’t want me and my brothers exposed to the crimes my Dad was involved in, or to a future of prison, like he had lived.
When I was 16 and living in a caravan in my mum’s back garden, I met my partner. She quickly moved in with me, and a year later, she was pregnant. At this time my Mum chose to live a life separate to my Dad, so along with my siblings, Mum and I moved 100 miles away.
I’m from a Romany gypsy background, so we moved onto a caravan site near the coast where many of Mum’s side of the family lived. My uncle took me under his wing and taught me how to make a living from collecting scrap metal. Once I had a steady income, my girlfriend and young son moved into my trailer with me. We lived on that site for nearly 20 years and went on to have 5 children together, 4 boys and 1 girl.
Losing Stability
I had a nice life, we were comfortable and happy, I earn’t an honest living which meant I could afford the cars I wanted, and a comfortable lifestyle. Then Covid hit and something didn’t seem quite right. My relationship was breaking down and I arrived home one day to find my bags packed. I told her if you want me to go, then I will go, so I did.
For a few months, I worked collecting scrap metal during the day, parked up and slept in my van during the night. One day my brother rang me and told me I shouldn’t be living like that and invited me to stay with him. I had some cash from a car I had sold, and a little from savings, so I bought myself a cheap trailer and moved onto my brother’s site, but it was a difficult time. I missed my kids, I wasn’t in a great place mentally, and I felt like I was in his way.
It was at this time a friend got in touch and invited me to stay, offering to help get me back on my feet. Looking back, I don’t know why I went, but I did. My friend had a lot going on with a violent ex which put me in an awkward position, and again, I realised I had to quickly leave.
My car wasn’t road worthy, so I left it behind and walked out of the house. I really didn’t know where to go. I called my sister who was living on a canal boat at the time, she offered to let me stay with her for a while. Eventually, living together became a bit too much, so I’d head off and sleep in my tent for a week or so, perhaps do a bit of hiking in the days and sleeping in my tent in during the nights, before returning to stay on the boat for another week. This continued for some time, and I eventually realised I couldn’t carry on living like that.
Life on the Streets
I got up one Friday morning, put my bag on my back and started walking. I had no idea where I was going, I just kept walking. I walked from Gloucester to Cheltenham when my ankles went so I thought I’ll put my tent up and have a rest, did that for an hour, then kept walking…and walking… until I got to Oxford around the Saturday lunchtime.
I put my tent up in the centre of Oxford and spent 4 weeks on the streets during October/November 2023. I tried to get help from the councils in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Oxford but they all wanted me to go back to my hometown and get help from the council there. I told them I didn’t want to go home, there are too many family problems, and it would be a very negative move for me.
Whilst on the streets I was approached by St Mungo’s, a homelessness charity. They taught me how to access other charities who helped me shower, eat hot food and sometimes gave me a bed for the night.
Rebuilding with Emmaus
It was St Mungo’s who told me about Emmaus. When I arrived at Emmaus Oxford, my anxiety and mental health were in a bad way. But the longer I’ve been living here, with the support of the Emmaus staff, the better I’ve become — I’m getting ready for the real world again now. I can balance my money, I have no issues with drink or drugs, I go to work in the store, come home to relax, and I get no bother. I’ve been here 18 months now.
I’ve completed two welding courses through Emmaus, meaning I am now a qualified welder, I’ve also done the digital skills training course, a health and safety course and an advanced driver course. My days are spent helping in the store or driving the vans. We collect and deliver furniture as well as make trips to the tip. Every one of the staff here will help you in any way they can — Emmaus is amazing. It’s not for everyone, but you get food, a roof over your head, and most importantly, they help you rebuild your life.
I am planning on applying for welding jobs this summer, and will stay here for six months whilst working, so I can save up to move on. I want to stay here in Oxford long term — it’s a fresh start, and I like it here. This time, I’m rebuilding my life for me.