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New Year, I received an email from my sponsor advising that their sponsor licence had been suspended and eventually was revoked.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.
