This month, we were reminded of the real difference that timely support can make in someone’s life. At BOOST, we are committed to helping residents overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes, often providing support beyond employment advice alone. Below is a message we received from a resident we supported after they lost their home in a devastating house fire.
“In mid-May, my house burnt down at night. It was a massive fire that destroyed the entire building and caused the roof to collapse. As a result, the police blocked the road and even diverted all the buses for a few days. I was inside the building when the fire started and had to evacuate in an emergency. Because I was only two weeks post-op from a major knee surgery (ACL and meniscus) with my leg completely immobilised, I didn’t know if I would make it to the door alive. The smoke was becoming heavy, so I didn’t have time to worry about my belongings. I left everything behind, including my phone, passport, and credit cards. Even my shoes were left behind. I just grabbed my two crutches and evacuated. I was left street-homeless, barefoot, and alone in a foreign country. That first night, I slept in a hospital waiting room, where the staff gave me a pair of socks. In the morning, I sought help from the council.
They provided me with emergency accommodation and a phone without internet, but they couldn’t help me with food or clothes. Consequently, I sat outside Sainsbury’s every day with an empty cup, relying on the generosity of passers-by just to feed myself. I was deeply worried that my body wouldn’t handle the combined toll of major surgery, the stress of the fire, and extreme food scarcity. One day, a lady advised me to try a library for a food voucher. I went to Burnt Oak, where I met Antony and Lawrence. They immediately took care of me. Lawrence offered me chocolate and bottles of water, which helped immensely since I was hungry, but too embarrassed to ask for anything. They registered me on their system and told me to come back the next day.
The following day, they gave me a pack of new socks, as mine were dirty from walking shoeless around London. They also provided a £100 emergency PayPoint voucher, so I could afford a new passport, and an emergency £150 Asda voucher, which I used to buy food and a phone with internet access. On top of that, they gave me a foodbank voucher and Riley went to a clothing charity and arrived at the library within an hour with a bag full of clothes. From that moment on, almost all of my worries were sorted out; I just needed to find a job. A few weeks later, once my leg had healed enough to wean myself off the crutches, I landed a job as a luxury concierge in a very high-end residence, working 45 hours a week with a good salary. I could have never landed that job if I hadn’t received help from BOOST. I needed a phone with internet and a clean, fresh outfit for the interview, especially since they judge candidates heavily on presentation. Zaid helped me to get smart clothes for my new role through Smartworks.
Furthermore, without the support & teamwork BOOST provided, my surgery recovery would have likely failed, and I wouldn’t be able to walk the way I do today to return to work. I cannot express enough how much they’ve helped me get out of a desperate situation. I am beyond grateful. I start my new job tomorrow and will rebuild from here. Thank you, BOOST!”