Meet Raymond, a High Trees learner, who joined our Digital Skills for Work course. As an asylum seeker from Uganda, Raymond was keen to improve his skills to help him with finding work in the future. The course also provided him with something positive to focus on while he was awaiting his asylum decision.
However, part way through the course Raymond’s learning was interrupted by a Home Office decision requiring him to relocate to a barge housing asylum seekers in Dorset. The news upset Raymond, it meant he would need to leave London at very short notice, disrupting his learning and meaning he would need to leave behind his friends and the church community he had started to form.
Despite this setback, Raymond was determined to continue with his studies. With the support of High Trees, he continued the course remotely, logging into weekly Microsoft Teams sessions.
The course had a big impact on Raymond’s wellbeing, helping him to stay connected and hopeful. “I felt so low and isolated, but I made up my mind to be positive and do everything I can to complete this course. It was something to look forward to every week. High Trees has become like a family to me…Having the course has helped me to feel connected to people even though I am far away.”
In July 2024, Raymond’s hard work and determination paid off – he passed his Digital Skills exam and received his qualification! He was also thrilled to find out that he had been granted refugee status. He’s excited to return to Lambeth, eager to continue learning and get involved in voluntary work, with the goal of restarting his career in finance.
“I hope to inspire and motivate people in a similar situation never to give up on education no matter what they are going through.”