Our Culturally Specific Support Service works with homeless and vulnerable people from minoritised ethnic communities in Nottingham. They help people to develop confidence in accessing the services they need across the health and wellbeing sector so they can sustain a tenancy.

In September 2021, Kalwant, who works in our Culturally Specific Support Service, was contacted by a member of the community about a mother and her child who were found sleeping in a derelict house. The child’s father, Jakub*, was sleeping in a shed.

Kalwant started working with both parents. When the child was taken into care, the mother disengaged from our support services and Kalwant remained working with Jakub. He wanted his son to live with him once he became more settled.

English is not Jakub’s first language, so Kalwant supported him to navigate the barriers he was facing in the community and with housing and health services.

Kalwant referred Jakub to temporary accommodation and he was offered a room in a shared house in December 2021. In March, a two-bedroom property was secured for him. Together they set up Universal Credit, utility bills, a direct debit for his rent and obtained white goods and furniture for his flat.

Kalwant worked closely with Social Services and built a good relationship with them to support Jakub and help him with gaining legal access to his child. She obtained a solicitor, attended meetings and helped gather vital information.

Kalwant worked hard to build trust with Jakub, which helped her to coordinate many of these different services.

The government’s EU Settlement Scheme was contacted to find out about the progress of his application and Kalwant became the main point of contact for this complex system.

During this time, Jakub found it difficult living away from his son and Kalwant provided him with emotional support. She started to build a relationship with his sister and liaised with her about ways she could help her brother. Kalwant encouraged Jakub to access alcohol services and supported him with these and reminded him to attend regular appointments.

Jakub’s determination to be reunited with his son, combined with living in secure accommodation and Kalwant’s intensive and consistent support has enabled a very positive outcome.

Jakub is now living in permanent accommodation with his son, who is attending a local school, and is working full time. His mental health is positive and he has rebuilt relationship with his sister.

He hopes to continue raising his son, carry on working and keep his accommodation.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

Read more about our Culturally Specific Support Service.