News
23 Feb 21
“TB destroyed my life”
Doris (83) arrived in the UK in 1960 as a young qualified nurse from British Guiana, now Guyana. She went straight to work in a mental hospital in Surrey. “They needed nurses,” she said. While working at the hospital she contracted TB, a disease which has had long term health effects. As a result of […]
23 Feb 21
Hamid hasn’t worked since his accident
Hamid (35) has a wide angry scar running up his forearm. He used to work for a glass company. But three years ago he was involved in a car accident which left him in a coma. He was in hospital for two months and has had several operations on his arms and leg. He takes […]
23 Feb 21
“Few people know what a poverty trap is”
Ricardo (26) grew up in the care system which he left around five years ago. He left school at 16 as he didn’t want to have to take out a loan to go into higher education. He left his foster home at 17. He moved to London living in unregulated care homes for children over […]
23 Feb 21
“We’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea”
It was while working on the railways during a heatwave some 17 years ago that Jack (61) developed chronic respiratory problems. He was working in customer services on the Heathrow Express when a malfunction in the air conditioning brought on a serious asthma attack. Since then Jack has suffered with chronic asthma which can be […]
23 Feb 21
“As soon as lockdown began it was going wrong for me”
Ceyda (29) moved to a one bedroom flat in Hornsey 18 months ago with her husband and two young sons some months after the bathroom ceiling collapsed in their studio flat in Muswell Hill. “It was lucky we weren’t at home when it happened,” she says. It took the council several weeks to even come […]
23 Feb 21
“It’s a difficult time of year, the kids need shoes and winter coats”
Julie (46) is a single parent with six children. Her children range in age from nine years old to 20 and one of the younger boys has Downs. In September she enrolled as a student midwife. “It’s pretty intense but I love it,” she says. Julie was initially enrolled on her midwifery course a year […]
16 Feb 21
“My kids are, thank God, not starving”
Serap (42) lives near Bounds Green and has three daughters and one son aged between six and 10 years old. Around six months ago she split up with her partner and had to apply for Universal Credit. However, as she lives in a council property and her former partner is still a joint tenant, she […]
16 Feb 21
“At least I’m not on my own”
Joanna (61) is guardian to her nine year old granddaughter who has lived with her since she was two. Joanna’s husband died last June. They live in Wood Green and Joanna works two days a week as a bus driver. Joanna’s son initially won custody of his daughter when he split up with her mother. […]