How a job with Harvester saved me from rough sleeping

Relying on the kindness of strangers

“When I arrived from Ghana, my church had already arranged for me to stay with one of the elders [of a church in Glasgow.] The family offered to host me temporarily for £250 a month, which covered everything, including internet. I thought that was fair since I would have had to pay for accommodation elsewhere anyway.

“I had £500 with me, enough for two months, but I wasn’t sure what would happen after that. It was important to secure accommodation, especially with winter approaching, as I didn’t want to end up sleeping rough. Thankfully, they treated me like family, even packing lunch for me sometimes.”

 

Financial pressures

“I started university, but getting a bus or train pass was another expense. My mum, who is retired, would try to send me money despite the unfavourable exchange rate. I kept applying for jobs but wasn’t having much luck. A friend on campus introduced me to an agency called Lennox Partnership, where I registered to receive job alerts. Most positions required experience I didn’t have, as my background was in administrative and volunteer work.

“My accommodation situation was pressing because the room I was staying in belonged to a cousin of the elder, who was expected back soon. It was a small room, and sharing wasn’t an option, so if nothing worked out, I faced a real risk of rough sleeping.”

An opportunity just in time

“Then I saw a job opening at Harvester for a front-of-house team member, specifically for people who had experienced or were at risk of homelessness. I applied and connected with Social Bite’s support team.

“Social Bite played a big role in connecting me with Harvester. For my interview, [Development and Support Worker] Ambreen from Social Bite was there to support me, guiding me through the process. She checked in on me weekly, even before I officially started working.

“After the interview, Ambreen told me that Mel, the manager at Harvester, was eager to have me on the team and couldn’t wait for me to start. Mel made up her mind about hiring me after seeing me interact with others during an on-the-job assessment. She told Ambreen not to make me wait and to let me know right away.

“I was expecting to hear back around 5:30, but by 2pm, I already had my answer—I got the job! I was so excited that I shared the news with everyone who had supported me.”

 

The right attitude for success

“When I began my training, I’d sometimes go to Harvester to do sessions on-site for an hour or two, and other times from home. After a month, I started working full-time.

“Although I don’t drink alcohol or coffee, I was assigned to work at the bar. Before starting, I had to take some training, including a test on wine. Surprisingly, I scored 100% on it, despite not drinking alcohol. The test covered things like wine regions and spices used. I’ve always believed in expanding my knowledge, even in areas that seem unnecessary, because I told myself I’m an important person who will go far. That mindset helped me succeed.”

Back in control

“When I got my first paycheck, it was only for the training hours. It wasn’t a lot, but it meant everything to me because I had earned it. It was my money, not a gift, and I didn’t want to feel indebted to anyone.

“When I told my mum about it, she had been planning to send me some money. I assured her not to send anything because I had enough to cover my needs for the month.

“With that paycheck, I was able to cover my basic needs for the month while I waited for the next one. I felt a sense of control, knowing that as long as I continued to work, I would keep getting paid.”

 

Confidence comes from the right support

“Harvester has a great team. I had no experience in hospitality, but the training was excellent and helped ease me into customer service. They don’t just see customers as people who pay, but as guests who deserve a memorable experience, encouraging them to return.

“When I started, I lacked confidence due to various reasons, and I wanted to work on that. Mel, the manager, noticed my potential and believed I was capable of more than I was showing. With the right support, she thought I could achieve a lot. Now, eight or nine months in, I think I’ve reached that point.”