Sunshiners

I have been a Sunshiner now for 5 years and cannot imagine my life any different.

I was born with extreme myopia and was almost blind at birth and I went through many foster homes. At 18 I was studying music at college when I took a schizophrenic breakdown and ended up in a homeless hostel.

In 2006 I was released as I had recovered from my illness. However, life outside the hostel was incredibly difficult for me, I couldn’t find any sort of job due to my background and was left in a cycle of unemployment and general misery.

I found Sunshine though Drew the founder who supported and helped me. Together we made a plan to save up my wages (and a loan) had an operation on my eyes to correct them, I now don’t even need glasses!

Life today is utterly unrecognisable to what it was, I have a great flat, -1 eye sight and my illness well gone. I love seeing London, speaking with all the different customers and I’ve even been featured on the BBC! I never plan to leave Sunshine, ever!

Alan

Czesc!

My name is Bartholomew but please call me Bart.

Despite my health problem in Poland I study to be forest ranger, but there are not so many forests in London! So I try to work as kitchen porter, this wasn’t the best thing for my knee, any further damage to my knee will cause life long bonding to wheelchair.  The worsening meant I had to quit this position immediately and I find impossible to get job, as sitting still is also a problem for me.  Due to my disability I couldn’t even find a job as simple as working in a supermarket.

This circumstance was most upsetting for me and after a desperate search for employment I am so happy to join Sunshine.

Thank you.

I’ve been working in sunshine around 4 years.

What I like about my job is knowing and meeting different kinds of people in society. I always feel a great deal of pride when my customer appreciate my hard work. I also like the fact that the working hours are quite flexible.

My hopes in the future are that I can continue to be successful and happy.

Roly

I have a learning disability which meant that until joining Sunshine I could not find any paid work. I volunteered in various settings including a café, a community shopping bus, retail, and the Scouts.

I’ve been working at Canary Wharf since September. Travelling independently from West London every day was a challenge at first but now I am proud to have overcome that.
I love wearing my smart uniform. I have built up a good customer base and I take great pride in what I do. If you come to see me, you’ll be sure of a Sunshine smile!

My name is Shafiqur or Once a week Shofique!

A charity called ‘Tower Projects’ recommended me to Sunshine because I’ve never had a job in my life before other than doing a horrible job working on a farm for a month.  I have many difficulties, writing, (this is being dictated) speaking and maths, but practical stuff (like shoeshining : ) I can do easy.

I live with my parents on an estate in Westferry which is very good for me because I work a lot in Docklands and central London. I spend lot’s of time on the DLR!

I love, love my job so much.  It’s the best thing to ever happen to me. I think, I must be very lucky almost all of my friends can’t get any job.

Thank you, I am blessed.

Shofique