Individual Grants

I wasn’t motivated or engaged in secondary school and I left at the age of 14, spending the last years of my formal education at a local college. This was a happier time in my life as they quickly recognised that my talents were in the arts and creative area.  I really wanted to continue my education at university and looked into studying media and film, but I just did not have the funds to pay for the course.

After leaving college, I tried my hand at various jobs from cleaning to labouring on building sites…literally anything I could get to earn money but I experienced periods of unemployment and as a result ended up living in youth hostels and experienced the raw side of life on the streets, homeless. 

After a while, I was lucky enough to be given a housing association flat in Esher when I was 17 years old but I found it so difficult to get work in the area and I couldn’t live with this uncertainty, fearing that this would be my destiny – living in a one bedroom flat, with no hope of employment and having to visit the local foodbank to make ends meet.  I decided to give up the flat and travel further afield to try and find work. This period of my life lasted about 5 to 6 years and after that I returned to Walton as my younger brother, who was the main carer for my disabled mum, decided that he needed to live his life and it was my turn to help care for my mum. 

I’ve been supported by Walton Charity who provided me with Sainsbury’s vouchers at my lowest point, when I needed emergency food, and more recently when I applied to them for a Learning and Development Grant to attend Merrist Wood College in Guildford.  I needed to break the downward cycle and start the transition into a career that would motivate me and Walton Charity part-funded the course fees for the Wildlife Conservation and Practical Habitat Management course that I am now near the end of.  The course has been fantastic and has given me both the academic qualifications and practical skills that I need to start my career.  I’m currently applying for jobs and am optimistic about my future.

Whilst I wait to complete the last months of the course and to hear good news about my job applications, I  wanted to give something back to the Charity who have helped me so much, so I’ve been part of a volunteering team helping Walton Charity to maintain the local woodlands in Hersham and Walton.