Home means something different to everyone. For Angela James, it has meant finding the support to build her confidence to get involved in her community.
As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, customers are sharing stories about what home means to them. For Angela, those reflections are shared as a poem.
Angela moved into her home five years ago. Since then, she says having the right home has helped her feel more settled and secure, giving her the confidence to try new things and make her voice heard.
That confidence has led her to become an active member of the Customer Scrutiny Panel, where she helps shape services and represent customer views.
In her poem, Angela reflects on the difference that having the right home and support has made to her life. Watch the video below to hear Angela recite her poem or read the poem in full below.
Alliance Homes
Alliance Homes, our local housing provider,
with teams working hard to find homes for people,
a place to live that they can call home,
services to help are even wider.
Building confidence, helping with employment,
giving people the skills to feel useful in life,
giving hope where all has been lost,
giving a sense of pride and enjoyment.
Building self-worth where none is felt,
supporting people who've suffered loss,
domestic abuse that sense of chaos,
self-belief is hard to find; life hard hitting dealt.
Alliance Homes find not just a home,
they support with finances, sorting debt,
with the cottonwool feeling of a mind full of stress,
someone alongside to make sense of and grow.
From someone who knows the blessing of a new home,
who has gained where all was once felt lost,
confidence to join in, from someone so quiet,
now feeling a sense of belonging.
Thank you, Alliance Homes.
Share your story
As part of our 20th anniversary, we're collecting stories from customers about what home means to them and the role Alliance Homes has played in their lives. If you'd like to share your story, we'd love to hear from you. Email communications@alliancehomes.org.uk.