Finding Our Place: An Immigrant Mother’s Journey to Belong
You know, there are many things I like about the community here. Really, sometimes it feels so nice. I meet people who are very warm and friendly, people who make me feel like we belong here. But then… there is another side. Sometimes, it feels like I am still an outsider, like I am not […]
Announcing Our New Partnership with ‘No Floor No More’
I’m pleased to announce that we have a new collaborative partner, “No Floor No More” (NFNM) in St Albans. We’re excited about working together to capture and share stories that highlight the social challenges faced by individuals in our community. Since 2022, NFNM has been a crucial recycling point for carpets and flooring that have […]
Fighting for a Place: My Journey from Ghana to a New Home
When I started looking for a place in May, I was hopeful. I knew it wouldn’t be easy—nothing ever is when you’re moving to a new country, especially while studying for a PhD. But I had no idea it would be this hard, this exhausting. Each day, the weight of uncertainty grew heavier on my […]
On the Edge: A Single Mum’s Struggle to Keep It Together
I got made redundant last year when my company downsized. It all happened so fast—one moment, everything seemed fine, and the next, I was without a job, feeling completely lost and terrified. As a single mum with two kids, I didn’t have any savings to fall back on. I always thought I’d have time to […]
St Albans: A Home We Can No Longer Afford – What About Our Children’s Future?
St Albans has been my home for as long as I can remember. I’ve raised my children here, in a town that has always felt safe and welcoming. But now, I find myself facing a future I never imagined—a future where my children won’t be able to stay in the place they’ve grown up. As […]
On the Margins: An NHS Worker’s Reality
I’m 40 years old, and I never thought I’d be living in a static caravan at this stage in my life. But here I am, parked up in a little corner of a site just outside St Albans, trying to make the best of it. I work for the NHS, and I love my job. […]
Trapped in Love: A Mother’s Exhaustion
I’m sitting here by the window, staring out at the world moving on without me, and all I can feel is this heavy, suffocating weight of being stuck. The sun’s out, people are living their lives, and here I am, trapped in the same routine, day after day. It’s like I’m living the same day […]
Miles from Home: A Barista’s Journey
Every morning, I drag myself out of bed before the sun’s even up. It’s early, and I’m tired, but I’ve gotten used to it. I don’t have much of a choice, do I? I get dressed in the dark, trying not to wake up my flatmate, and head out the door. It’s an hour on […]
Two Bars of Warmth: A Winter’s Tale of Quiet Resilience
Every winter, when the frost begins to settle on the window panes and the days grow shorter, Edith, now in her 90th year, faces a familiar challenge. Her small, cosy home is cold, but the heating stays off. It’s simply too expensive to run. Instead, Edith relies on her old electric fire in the sitting […]
Miles to Go: The Daily Struggle of a Man on Foot
Every morning, just before dawn, James—though that’s not his real name—laces up his worn-out shoes and begins his five-mile walk to work. His day starts at 6 a.m., giving him just enough time to make the journey and be at work for half eight. He can’t afford the bus fare, so he relies on his […]
