Andrew H’s story

Growing up in foster care, it was easy to end up in trouble or get involved with alcohol and drugs – they were everywhere. When I was ten, I started mixing with the wrong of people in an environment where drinking and doing drugs was normal. When you’re in these situations you don’t see anything wrong with it, and it doesn’t seem illegal. I started getting involved with social services a lot and moved around in foster care. But it felt like wherever I went, trouble followed.

I really liked the idea that Blue Sky Services helps people in hard situations to find work and stop re-offending.

The realisation things needed to change happened overnight when my son was born. He is what I am most proud of. But I still found it hard to find proper work after getting in trouble with the law. So I grabbed the first job I could, and pushed myself to go to college where I took different maintenance courses and learned new skills.

I then got a job with Forward’s Blue Sky Services as a Grounds Maintenance Operative. I was sub-contracted to work for councils, maintaining different grounds, like allotments and parks. I really liked the idea that Blue Sky Services helps people in hard situations to find work and stop re-offending.

My life is amazing now! It used to feel chaotic, but today, things seem smooth and organised. The pressure of getting on your feet and finding a job can hit anyone, but it’s important to look for options and not get down in the dumps about it. If you come across a job with an organisation like Forward, take it!