I have dedicated my life to the support of black people by trying to be a role model not only for my children, but for everyone’s children so they can see it is possible to achieve what they thought was unachievable for them.
As the youngest of six children before my younger sister came along 11 years later, I was given very little opportunity to develop my academic ability. This I can understand as my parents had been in this country for about 12 years and they were trying to make a better life for themselves. They would spend a lot about of the time having to work for a small wage and to feed six children as well as make a home for themselves and send some money back to their parents. Life was difficult for them.
Unfortunately, for me, a quiet boy never asking for anything just getting on with life. I found that I was far behind in school and struggled to read and write. However, I had a real ambition to be somebody and would always try my best, but never having good support at school. It was difficult for me, my mother would always say, ” you see you boy you’re going to end up sweeping the streets” and I always feared this would be the case. At the age of 17, I was invited to attend a church service at my older sisters church. It was during this. meeting I was asked to come to the front and the preacher asked me to ask the Lord to come into my life. I didn’t think much of it at the time but I thought I would give it a go. I did ask the Lord to come to my life, and basically I felt lots of emotions running through my body. At that very time I had vision of Jesus stretching out his hand and I could see my hand going into his. I left the church that day, very confused as I was sure I had met some supernatural being. I believed it was Jesus, and I said yes to him. From this day onwards my my life totally changed. I felt a close connection to God and his holy spirit. I left the altar believing I had meet with Jesus in the form of his spirit. At first, my life went from good to bad and I ended up losing everything I hold dear such as my car, my job as a labourer and my girlfriend. But I basically I stayed believing in God and I after a short while, I started noticing doors open for me. I managed to get another job which I excelled. However, this was not without its challenges, and I learnt to depend upon God. At the age of 37, I lost what I thought was a really good job, and I thought for my life was over. However, I decided to give care work a chance and I really enjoyed it because I just wanted to help people. Eventually, I picked up the courage to apply for university and had to pay my own way. I worked nights at a support worker and studied during the day. When I told people I was going to university they thought that there is no way I go to get through that as I was classed in my family as of low academic ability as I could barely read while I was at school. However, I trusted a God and he led me to the right people to support me, pretty soon I was doing quite well and before I knew it. I had completed my 1st degree and I became a social worker.
This was great for me because today I am able to help other others, but I wasn’t satisfied with that I wanted to see people who look like me do well, and find themselves in a position of power and authority so they can make a change for others coming behind us. I did a few more degrees after this, and at the same time I was doing well in church and became a pastor looking after people and caring for them, and helping them to want to understanding of the bible. I seem to have a gift at explaining things in a way that people can understand I feel comfortable.
Well fast forward to the time of the murder of George Floyd, I can remember the news broadcast, just like it was yesterday, I could see on the telly, a policeman was pressing of a neck of a black man and to my surprise he actually killed him. Right there, and than I could see that black people were oppressed in every way, and we needed to do something about this. Just giving money wasn’t going to do it, what was needed was education, education. I had a dream shortly after and I saw myself supporting people to come up higher. It was shortly after this, I felt I needed to support people that look just like me to overcome oppression, depression, and to show them hope, and to instil into them an attitude that lets will encourage them to achieve great things despite of the colour, class for or financial status. I wanted to support Black people, I would offer my skills but nobody would pay me for that. My wife suggested I start a charity and I felt she had the right attitude why not just give way my time to something I believed in and trust in God to provide for us. With the support my wife I had the vision to start ‘Blacklivesmentored”. We have had many referrals and have changed so many lives. Presently we don’t have any funding from the government, but I am determined that this will not deter us destroy us from supporting black children middle-aged and the elderly.
Sometimes we get donations and when we do. It all goes back into the charity. Are using these funds to help disadvantaged families to pay for tuition assessments and the first session so that the children will leave school with a qualification that will enable them to progress in life.
Most recently we had a qualified nurse come to the charity requested support by way of having someone to talk too. The charity took her referral and we came to understand her situation in that despite being qualified as a nurse and having a good job, she could not afford to take the bus to work. The charity supported her to get to work by providing her with funds to enable to get to work, and helped lift her out of her depression.
- This year the charity is focusing on let’s talk mental health, we are looking to do a some sessions were a small group to talk about the illness and offer support to families, carers and sufferers.
My wife, along with the team that work with the Charity are really keen to see the lives of those which are disadvantaged be approved, and to see the quality of black peoples mental health improve. In addition, black people need to be given an opportunity to make active contribution to society, this is our aim and goal for this year.
Blacklivesmentored 