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"I’d enjoyed volunteering and helping the homeless for many years, so when I was made redundant I thought, ‘Let me join an agency and take it from there’. There can’t be much worse things in life than having to sleep on the streets, and none of us knows what lies ahead, so I started working for the Single Homeless Project. Now I tell everybody about the job I'm doing because I want to promote more awareness of the problem. I helped set up the new hostel here, making up beds and getting the rooms ready, and as people came in we were meeting and greeting them. I find working as a support worker is very rewarding, emotional and thought-provoking. The biggest lesson I've learnt is never to judge a book by its cover. I remember one morning there was a knock at the door and this guy was standing there. His bald head and his face were completely covered in tattoos, his trousers half-on, half-off, his shoelaces all undone, and I was apprehensive as to how he would be. But once I'd listened to and spoken with him, I found he was one of the sweetest guys you could ever hope to meet.
"I do get emotionally attached. Sometimes you're working together on a daily basis for months. You take them to hospitals or job centres, they show you their family photographs, and you build up a rapport. Then people move on and you wonder how they're doing, hope they’re still on that upward path and getting the support that they need. I think being compassionate is the main motivation. You want to help people and do the best you can for them. It’s the sort of job you have to love to do it. It has to come from the heart, from within. Part of supporting is listening and understanding – holding their hand and helping them on their way. Sometimes they might bring you a flower or find something else small to give you. They still have their pride, and it’s important to be able to give as well as receive."
"I’d enjoyed volunteering and helping the homeless for many years, so when I was made redundant I thought, ‘Let me join an agency and take it from there’. There can’t be much worse things in life than having to sleep on the streets, and none of us knows what lies ahead, so I started working for the Single Homeless Project. Now I tell everybody about the job I'm doing because I want to promote more awareness of the problem. I helped set up the new hostel here, making up beds and getting the rooms ready, and as people came in we were meeting and greeting them. I find working as a support worker is very rewarding, emotional and thought-provoking. The biggest lesson I've learnt is never to judge a book by its cover. I remember one morning there was a knock at the door and this guy was standing there. His bald head and his face were completely covered in tattoos, his trousers half-on, half-off, his shoelaces all undone, and I was apprehensive as to how he would be. But once I'd listened to and spoken with him, I found he was one of the sweetest guys you could ever hope to meet.
"I do get emotionally attached. Sometimes you're working together on a daily basis for months. You take them to hospitals or job centres, they show you their family photographs, and you build up a rapport. Then people move on and you wonder how they're doing, hope they’re still on that upward path and getting the support that they need. I think being compassionate is the main motivation. You want to help people and do the best you can for them. It’s the sort of job you have to love to do it. It has to come from the heart, from within. Part of supporting is listening and understanding – holding their hand and helping them on their way. Sometimes they might bring you a flower or find something else small to give you. They still have their pride, and it’s important to be able to give as well as receive."
"I’d enjoyed volunteering and helping the homeless for many years, so when I was made redundant I thought, ‘Let me join an agency and take it from there’. There can’t be much worse things in life than having to sleep on the streets, and none of us knows what lies ahead, so I started working for the Single Homeless Project. Now I tell everybody about the job I'm doing because I want to promote more awareness of the problem. I helped set up the new hostel here, making up beds and getting the rooms ready, and as people came in we were meeting and greeting them. I find working as a support worker is very rewarding, emotional and thought-provoking. The biggest lesson I've learnt is never to judge a book by its cover. I remember one morning there was a knock at the door and this guy was standing there. His bald head and his face were completely covered in tattoos, his trousers half-on, half-off, his shoelaces all undone, and I was apprehensive as to how he would be. But once I'd listened to and spoken with him, I found he was one of the sweetest guys you could ever hope to meet.