Just a handful of years ago, Paul Kamara was homeless and living rough in Manchester. Paul had been without a home for 20 months after losing his job in security amid cuts at Manchester Airport in 2016.
With no money coming into the household, his job loss was followed by a relationship breakdown with his partner amid the financial strain, and he was asked to move out of their home.
He has not forgotten how it felt to be sofa-surfing with friends, never wanting to overstay his welcome, and then eventually finding himself living rough on the streets for months on end. But on Christmas Day six years ago, a kind invitation changed his life.
“Looking back on where I was six years ago compared with now, it feels like a lifetime ago, and so much has happened in between. I lost my mother recently and my brother," shared Paul. "I hope my story shows how hard work and perseverance can pay off."
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Out on the street, Paul would often have to sleep next to the bins of Manchester city centre's Primark which hid him from the worst of the cruel Manchester weather, and other people forced to live on the streets. "It's a dog eat dog life," Paul told the Manchester Evening News.
"In the evening, people get aggressive and want to snatch your phone, they shout at you that you've taken their space, especially if they've used drugs. It's the same with temporary accommodation, that can be violent and dangerous too because of the drug use there and you feel safer on the street sometimes.
"It was incredibly difficult, my head was all over the place. I think if I had been drawn into the drugs and alcohol on the street, I would have never made it out, I had to stay focused on wanting a job and turning my life around.
"Some friends only found out I was homeless after it had happened, I didn't want to be a burden on anyone."
Then, in the freezing cold weeks leading up to Christmas 2017, a young man from Gambia often stopped where Paul was living on the streets in Piccadilly to hand him a coffee or a pasty. One day, that gracious young man told Paul, 'you can't spend Christmas Day alone like this - come and join us'.
The Gambian family invited Paul to share Christmas Day in their Gorton home, and then told him they could stay in their living room for a short while as he got back on his feet. It was a transformative moment for him - in the following months and years, he managed to get out of homeless shelters, get a job, and this year, he's looking forward to celebration Christmas in his own home in Stalybridge with his two daughters, now 11 and nine-years-old, and his sister.
Paul says he has since tried to track down the family who cared for him when he nowhere else to go, but to no avail. "I've gone back to that home in the last few years to thank them, but I think they've left now," he said.
Through sheer determination and optimism, Paul, 46, turned his hard times around. He had to bounce back from adversity and decided to visit a Job Centre.
The staff recommended a short health and social care course at Trafford College, which started him on a journey to a new life. Paul had to still sleep rough at times, using city centre gyms to shower, but the course provided a weekly bus pass for him to get to classes.
That course then enabled him to apply for a voluntary clerical role at Manchester’s internationally acclaimed cancer centre, The Christie. Often, that job meant he was given lunch while doing his voluntary work, providing him with a crucial meal while he was still between living on the street and staying in temporary accommodation, he told the M.E.N.
After securing the position in October 2018, supporting the administration and secretarial team, he started helping out in the patient transport team, arranging to get patients home after their treatment. The keen volunteer wanted to demonstrate his talent and his will to succeed in giving his time to a worthy cause - and Paul was recognised for it.
Paul got a big break as he was offered paid employment at The Christie as a clerical officer with the clinical oncology team, helping to process patient appointments and provide clinical notes. Since then, he has become a beloved member of The Christie's staff.
'Paul has proved to be a reliable and hard-working colleague, showing a passion for taking up the learning and development opportunities provided', the cancer centre told the Manchester Evening News. 'As a result, he won the ‘Learner of the Year’ award at The Christie Staff Awards in 2019.'
Being presented with his certificate by the former Coronation Street star, Victoria Ekanoye, was one of Paul’s proudest moments. “Winning the Learner of the Year award was a big deal for me," he said.
“It now has pride of place in my home next to the TV. If you want to grow as a person, you must be willing to learn new things.”
In September 2020, he successfully secured a housing association bedsit in Stalybridge, and eight weeks ago, he moved into a one bedroom flat. Paul has been promoted twice since joining The Christie and now works as a 'patient pathway tracker' in the performance team.
In his spare time, Paul now visits the gym three or four times a week, plays badminton, and recently got into reading.
“I hope my story shows how hard work and perseverance can pay off,” says Paul. “After I lost my job, I lost my home and lived on the streets.
"I am incredibly proud to have turned my life around since then and hugely grateful to The Christie for giving me the break I needed and believing in me.
“Now that I have a stable home again, I see my kids regularly at the weekends and am really looking forward to being with them over Christmas. I’m very optimistic about my future.
“Looking back on where I was six years ago compared with now, it feels like a lifetime ago, and so much has happened in between. I lost my mother recently and my brother."
Paul’s message to anyone who finds themselves homeless is to always keep your head up. “You need to have hope,” he says.
“Keep focused on getting your life back on track. Avoid getting caught up in drinking or drugs.
"Keep pushing yourself to improve and push through the barriers and adversity you might suffer. I hope my story can inspire others who find themselves homeless.”
Paul relishes working at The Christie and finds it a very rewarding place. “There is a great atmosphere, and everyone is really friendly,” says Paul. “Seeing how much of a difference The Christie makes to people is so rewarding. I’m proud of the life-saving and life-changing work The Christie does.”
Looking to the future, Paul hopes to further his learning. “I want to do a part-time master’s in public administration in the next couple of years and hope to get the funding or at least a loan," he says.
"Doing a master’s degree should help me to progress in my career.
"More than anything, it's a blessing to stay in my home, decorate, and do what I want. I'm looking forward to having my children stay with my this Christmas, we're going to go on a canal walk and I'm cooking Christmas dinner - I've done a big shop and bought all of their presents. I can't wait."
Andy Gibson, Head of Performance at The Christie, said: “Paul’s story is truly inspiring, and he is a valued member of my team. He has shown so much resilience to get through being homeless, and his optimism in life shines through.
“As a major employer in Manchester, The Christie takes its social responsibilities to the community seriously, and supporting Paul to get back on his feet shows how important this is. I hope Paul has a wonderful Christmas this year.”
