Before I met the team at Hope into Action, I had been living in a women’s refuge for nearly six months after escaping an unhappy home with my two young children and an abusive partner.

While I was with my partner, part of me believed that I was deserving of the level of control and the unkindness I was experiencing. I hadn’t known anything different. Everything in our lives was controlled, from finances to time and house management. I felt completely disempowered, and wasn’t able to process what I had been experiencing. It got to the point where I was struggling so much, I had an emotional breakdown and called my sister. She convinced me that it was time to leave with the children and escape our situation. I had no money or place to go, and so I sought the help of a women’s refuge after my sister called the domestic abuse helpline and they referred me.

The refuge was an intense and often unsettling environment, never knowing what was going to happen next. I had to learn quickly how to gauge people's moods. We were expected to clean the house and staff's toilets. This was often the cause of disputes and arguments amongst the residents, most of whom had experienced trauma. There was no freedom or opportunity for independence, especially for the children. It was a very difficult time for my family and a desperate time as doors to more permanent accommodation just seemed to close again and again. In the end I was left with no hope that we would ever get out of our situation.

When I heard that Hope into Action had a house that might be available, I couldn’t believe that it was real. I had put up emotional barriers to protect myself from further disappointment. It took a lot of convincing from staff that the offer of a house was real. When I was reassured by the team that the house was definitely being offered to me, I was overwhelmed. I broke down into tears and felt unable to stop crying. It was like a tiny glimmer of hope had been allowed to creep in. I saw the house and experienced the same feeling of disbelief and joy. Finally a place to call my own, where we would be safe from all that we had been through.

With the help of our new home and support from the staff and others in the church, our lives have changed for the better. I have been given the chance to reflect and process my own journey, my trauma, and I have experienced peace and healing that I had not thought possible before now.

When I came across Hope into Action, I was in a bad way. I had become homeless after my employer wasn't able to pay my salary. I had lost my bar job, my flat, and had no means to get myself back on my feet. I was struggling to find new employment. When you become homeless life becomes very intense. Where will I get food, water and all that I need?

Then I met Hope into Action, and everything changed. They were able to provide a secure place for me to stay, and the moral support that I needed to get myself back on my feet. Staff encouraged me when I was applying for jobs and made sure I went into interviews feeling confident and supported.

Thanks to their support, I have found a job that I enjoy, with more security and potential for career development. I'm so grateful for Lisa , who has been fantastic. She knows when to push and when not to push, and has empowered me to get where I am today.

When war broke out, my family and I were forced to flee our beloved home in Syria. We ended up in Egypt for a time, where work was never guaranteed. My husband desperately needed eye surgery, which we could not access, and life became very hard for my family. Hope into Action has allowed us a new beginning here in the UK. We were able to come and be in a home that is safe. My children have a place to go to school, my husband has been able to access the surgery that he needed and I have been able to access English speaking courses through CLEAR [City Life Education and Action for Refugees].

Hope into Action has been a great help to my family. Last year, Hope into Action supported us to get the documents we needed to visit Turkey, where much of my family remain as refugees, and whom we had not seen since the war broke out in 2011. We have now got a home and the help we need, and things are good here in the UK.