I have been talking about my life to the people I work with and I wanted to share this with others so they understand what life has been like for me.  Hopefully people will want to achieve things like I have.

I was born in Zimbabwe. When I was 2 years old I moved to South Africa so I could have an operation on my head. I lived with my Mum and brother Jason, and went to a school called the Gateway Village, just outside Johannesburg.

I have lots of happy memories of going to school. I was in the Special Olympics for swimming and have medals for this. I also swam the Midmar Mile. This is when lots and lots of people get together to swim a mile at Midmar Dam. I am very proud of what I did.

When I was 16 years old, I moved into a home next door. The people that ran the home made decisions for me that I was not happy about. They had control of my money and made decisions about where I lived and my health - I was not included in any of this.

This was a difficult time in my life, but with the help of my family I was able to move on. I knew what was important to me and what I wanted. When I was growing up I always knew that I wanted to be very independent and that I wanted to do a caring job when I was older.

My Mum helped me apply for a vocational access course and I was successful. I did my first placement at College Nursery.  My second placement was at an older person’s nursing home for people that were blind, and I helped make the meals.  They offered me a job in the kitchen when I left college and I stayed there for 6 months. It was OK, but I knew I wanted to care for people.
 

Diane supporting two children
Diane working at the nursey


I then got job as a care assistant and had lots of support to learn.  The managers supported me with my NVQs  1, 2 and 3. This was great - I felt part of a team and made friends that I still keep in contact with today.

Then the management changed and I was given a-zero hour contract.  I really wanted to develop but I wasn’t supported. They changed my role from care assistant to laundry worker. I wasn’t happy.

I started to apply for other jobs and had some interviews, and then my Mum saw the job for Mencap. I completed the application form with me and I was successful in going for an open day. I felt really happy when I got the job. Mencap has changed my life and I feel really settled.

Diane sits in front of a laptop at a table, wearing a green top.
Diane at work for Mencap


My job with the quality team is teaching me new skills, such as talking to people and writing reports on what life is like for them. I am still building my skills on being independent and recently stayed in a hotel on my own.

In 2009 I got my own bedsit in Hatfield and I don’t need any support. In 2019 I got my own one bedroom flat. I do everything for myself and enjoy living on my own. I have learnt some great skills such as cooking  - I’m great at cooking lasagne!

I manage all my own money and really enjoy spending it too - I love clothes shopping!  I like going to the cinema and eating at Wetherspoon . Keeping in touch with people is really important, so I use Facebook to speak to my friend Amy, we used to work together. It’s important to me that I see my friends. Working at Mencap has really helped with this as I work better hours.

Last year I went on a supported holiday and I keep in contact on Facebook with the people I meet there too.  I would like to go on this holiday again.

I am very proud of what I have achieved but I still have a lot of areas I want to develop in. It is important that we are always developing.

I hope that my story can inspire other people to be brave, try new things, and succeed.