Skip to content
BDCA Logo
  • What’s On
    • Timetable
    • Foodbank
    • Community Support
    • Sports and fitness
    • Social
    • Community Garden
    • Youth
    • CommuniTEA Café
  • Childcare
  • Foodbank
  • Space Hire
  • Support Us
    • Giving
    • Volunteer
    • Partner with Us
  • News
  • About
    • Our Work
    • Our Team
    • Our History
    • Our Documents
    • Media
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Covid-19

Home » News » People stories: meet Paul

Interviews

People stories: meet Paul

“If you hadn’t looked after me, I don’t know what would have happened. I’d still be on the streets, or worse.”

Paul, aged 39, has been in Newham since 2017 after fleeing Sri Lanka, where he was tortured and family members were killed during the civil war. After he lost his job in Newham, he found himself sleeping rough and his PTSD and depression grew worse.

Thanks to our NEWway partnership, he found refuge at local night shelters. Our teams then helped him to secure temporary accommodation, a social worker, and leave to remain in the UK.

For the past three years, Paul has been an enthusiastic volunteer in our garden, visiting every day it’s open and giving back to the community. He enjoys cutting grass, trimming trees, clearing the ground, planting and observing the seasons and cycle of life. He says working in the garden helps him keep busy and focused, makes him tired and
better able to sleep, he feels fitter with improved mental health, and it’s helped him stay sociable and connected to the community.

This year, Paul has taken on some paid work with the NEWlife team, tending gardens at people’s homes, churches and community centres. He says having a plan for the day helps reduce the flashbacks he suffers and he loves the challenge of getting a job completed within a day.

He says the NEWway and NEWlife teams are like his family now.

“From a shoulder to lean on to the practical support you’ve given, you’ve changed my life.”
Share this:
Our Impact Report 2021
UKPN brings Christmas cheer to our food bank!

Related articles

Poverty and the pandemic
Our Crisis Response Story
T: 020 8586 7070
E: info@bonnydowns.org
Donate to BDCA! Subscribe to our Mailing List

Our Recent Stories

  • Job: Children & Families Activity Facilitator 2 February 2023
  • Free Hot Soup and Activities 26 January 2023
  • A roundup of Festive Joy! 16 January 2023
  • Christmas Closures 2022 12 December 2022
  • We’re hiring! Nursery Workers 11 December 2022
  • Our Impact Report 2022 8 December 2022
  • Interfaith Christmas Celebration 7 December 2022

We’re Hiring!

We have Nursery Practitioner roles at London Living Wages in full and part time positions

Nursery Jobs

Search

© Bonny Downs Community Association
The Well Community Centre, 49 Vicarage Lane, London E6 6DQ
Tel: 0208 586 7070 | Email: info@bonnydowns.org
Charity Reg No: 1071625 | Company Limited by Guarantee No: 3625785
Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram