“Being made redundant brought my entire world crashing down. I was extremely confused. I had no way out as my visa had a restriction that didn’t allow me to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance; I was desperate.

I had sleepless nights wondering how I was going to be able to be the breadwinner with no income? How would my wife and I cope?

To make my horrible situation worse, my wife had an accident at her workplace, which left her unable to work, and she also couldn’t receive benefits because her visa was linked to mine. We had recently gotten married and instead of being able to enjoy our life together, there were times that we didn’t have money to buy food. What kind of life had I brought my wife into?

I had no idea where money would come from. I could think about nothing else, but how we were going to make it to tomorrow…until I discovered the secret. I pushed myself. I couldn’t give up and the determination that I had acquired at the UCKG HelpCentre was my fuel. I stopped asking ‘why’ and began to ask ‘how’. That’s when my eyes were opened to opportunities that I had been unable to see before.

By taking one step at a time, I was gradually able to open my own Web Development Company. The day that I closed my first deal was the day I knew my wife and I would stop struggling. My business began to grow until my company made a breakthrough – I bought the company that had made me redundant!

Both our marriage and financial life has completely turned around and it is unbelievable; we not only have two companies, but we also invest and buy other businesses. My financial life is way better than what it used to be.
Now we can enjoy life together and forget about the sorrows of the past!”

Leo Mendes