Nakisha’s new life: from bad start to promising future
12 Mar 2025
Nakisha arrived in London after fleeing violence in Grenada with dreams of a family, a decent job and a nice place to live.
Starting a new life in a different country is rarely straightforward though and in Nakisha’s case it could hardly have got off to a more difficult start. She soon found herself homeless, unemployed and then became pregnant.
Living in temporary accommodation she contracted COVID-19 and her baby was born prematurely after 23 weeks, requiring several operations and spending six months in hospital.
She says: “There were times when I thought my dreams would never come true. I was in a pickle and I spent a long time trying to figure out my next move.”
It came when she was referred to the Ingeus Pioneer service, delivered through its
Central London Works Work and Health Programme. The service exists to find jobs for people with health and disability barriers to employment and then continues that support once participants are in work.
The trauma of her daughter’s birth and the care she received sparked in Nakisha a passion to find a job in which she could help people and her case worker Kim set about making that part of the dream come true.
Nakisha’s short-term goal was to gain qualifications that would allow her to become a Special Educational Needs (SEN) teaching assistant. Her long-term goal is to run her own nursery.
Kim enrolled her with education provider partner LMP where she gained a qualification in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health.
Other local partners provided safeguarding and first aid courses. Ingeus bought her a laptop and charity Smart Works gave her interview coaching and clothes.
Eventually she secured a SEN role – a job that allowed her to move from a studio flat to two-bedroomed accommodation.
Ingeus’ support didn’t end there. Nakisha’s first month’s travel costs were paid for along with a voucher for work clothing. Her initial childcare fees were covered as were storage charges for her belongings while she was in temporary accommodation.
She says: “My daughter is a miracle – she is much healthier than she was and has everything she wants. So I may not have the family I envisaged but I have a nice home and a job I love.
“Kim and other members of the Pioneer team have been willing to make the extra effort to get the help I needed. Kim made sure I made all the right steps. I didn’t know such care and loyalty existed until I found Ingeus.”
Kim calls her every month to check if she needs any further support and says: “It’s been an amazing journey. I find Nakisha inspiring; she’s motivated, kind and patient. She’s attended every appointment and that’s why she is where she is now. It takes two, it’s a partnership.”
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