University life begins for formerly homeless man

Carlton was homeless in 2021 but has now started a foundation year at the University of East Anglia in Norwich

Homeless people have been urged to believe they can turn their life around by a man who has just started university life aged 29.

Carlton has begun working towards an English and creative writing degree at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich but was homeless as recently as 2021.

He has been supported by the charity Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney to get his life back on track and is getting used to life on campus as a mature student.

With teaching being one of the careers he's considering pursuing, Carlton said: "You always have to believe in yourself, because if no-one else does, you have to."

The charity has been based at the All Hallows Community Convent in Ditchingham since 2011 and helps people with work opportunities and somewhere to live.

Carlton got involved with Emmaus when he was evicted in 2021.

He told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I was living in Norwich at the time and I think for a lot of people who were in my situation, who have been homeless, it was very much past events tend to inform future ones.

"If they are not being addressed early enough they tend to just compound later on and I would put it down to not really having the skills or the mental health resistance to certain things."

He said finances, including rent arrears, got on top of him.

"I don't think I did myself any favours as I was just kind of burying my head in the sand with my life and things; I reached a certain point where I thought I don't really care anymore what happens.

"But then I'm homeless and I thought I had to do something about it, as this isn't really what I wanted, I was just living in fear of living life and things.

"But eventually I found my way to Emmaus and the rest is history, as they say."

The charity Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney has supported Carlton in turning his life around

Carlton is writing a book, and added: "I remember when I first got here, I said something like 'I'm the old guy on campus' because I'm 29 and everyone else is younger.

"But you meet people in a similar situation to you and you never know what people are going through, so it's important to reach out to people - and ask for help when you need it."

He has started a foundation year at the UEA, which allows students to develop their academic skills before joining an undergraduate degree course.

A spokesman for Emmaus said: "Carlton has built confidence, self-esteem and loads of skills.

"We're incredibly proud of everything he's achieved and wish him all the very best with his studies."