Mark was supported on the Community Connections Essex project, which is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.

“Back on 21 July 1995 I was assaulted and left by 5 men which left me with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 2010 I got hurt doing my job as a door supervisor resulting in my life being turned upside down with life changing injuries and that resulted in me not working since 28 July 2011 - a date that’s always in my mind.

On meeting Alice at Papworth Trust I found her easy to chat to she understood my struggles on finding work. My unemployment wasn’t through a lack of trying - on the day I met Alice I’d sent 1,776 applications forms and never heard a thing back. Alice never gave me false hope, she just said let’s wait and see what happens. She helped me to write a new cv and introduced me to a website called Indeed. She helped me look for jobs that I could do with my disabilities.

After applying for some jobs which took me to a total of 1,782, I was so shocked to get a phone call to ask me to have an interview and even more shocked to learn it would be 4 people interviewing me. After an hour and a half, it was over and I was told I’d hear back the following week. The very next day I got a call to tell me I’d got the job as an outreach support worker.

Papworth Trust and Alice have changed my life! The help I received from Alice has given me a purpose again, something to wake up for in the mornings, and above all a new start at 48 years of age. I can’t thank Alice enough, she is an amazing person.”