‘I Had Nowhere To Go And Nobody To Turn To’
Zahraa was just 18 when a relationship breakdown with her family resulted in her having to find a place to live.
Zahraa, originally from Iraq, had been studying with Liverpool City College who were, at that time, the only support available to her. She wasn’t living in her country of birth and was continually adapting to speak in what wasn’t her native language.
Liverpool City College referred her to Everton in the Community and its Home Is Where The Heart Is programme, which supports young people at risk of homelessness.
And this is when things began to change...
“When I went back to the college in September to study an ‘access to education business and finance’ course, I told the safeguarding team at the college that I needed more support,” said Zahraa.
“I was an 18-year-old girl and I had nowhere to go, I had nobody to support me – I felt alone and unsafe.
“The college was a big support for me and they introduced me to Everton in the Community which is when I met my support worker, Russell.
“Within a week of us meeting, he helped me secure the accommodation I was looking for that was more suited to me.
“A big thing for me was my safety. Russ put this support around me which included safety plans to make sure I felt safe because obviously I was on my own.
“I was sharing things with Russell that I wouldn’t have shared with anyone else previously. He made me feel so comfortable, he never judged, he always kept me positive and helped me stay calm throughout what was a difficult stage in my life.”
Home Is Where The Heart Is, is funded primarily by the annual sleepout, which this year will take centre stage at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time.
There’s still time to sign up and be one of the first to take part in the event at Everton’s new waterfront home on Friday 10 October. Click here to register and support people like Zahraa achieve and aspire to better things.
Zahraa faced many challenges and barriers during this time, but her ambition and enthusiasm to better herself was never one of them.
Her education was always a priority, and thanks to Everton in the Community’s support, spearheaded by Russell, Zahraa was able to focus on her studies, her goals and new experiences – which included sharing her story at last year’s Goodison Sleepout in front of 400 supporters.
“I was doing my course and I had a part-time job in the college and everything was going good” continued Zahraa. “I was meeting Russ once and twice a week, just to see how things were going and to make sure I had everything I needed.
“I graduated the course, and the day after I got a full-time job which I’m doing now at the college; being able to live in my own space and feeling more independent is such a relief. I’m achieving my dreams; I’m going to University in September to study Business Management and I can’t wait for the next chapter.
“I spoke at the last sleepout at Goodison Park and it was just incredible seeing people listening to my story; they were so supportive and they said how proud they were of mewhich meant a lot.
“I’m so grateful to Russell, he helped me so much and it meant a lot knowing that he was always there for me.”