A former believe housing customer who was supported after becoming homeless has returned to the organisation to start her dream career.
Sarah Dark, 30, recently joined believe housing as part of a new group of apprentices, beginning a Level 5 data engineer apprenticeship.
“believe housing helped set me up to succeed — first with a home when I needed it, and now in my career,” she said.
Sarah’s journey with the County Durham-based housing association began in 2021 after the end of a relationship left her homeless.
Having studied law at Teesside University and started a career in conveyancing, she moved back in with her parents, sleeping on a couch in a busy family home while trying to work out what came next.
She registered with Durham Key Options, the choice-based lettings scheme for social housing in County Durham, and secured a home with believe housing near Durham.
Sarah said: “Being homeless in my mid-20s was difficult. I didn’t know what my future looked like, but I knew I needed a fresh start.
“Getting my own home with believe housing was so important.
“I had never lived on my own before and had so much to figure out, but I had a safe place of my own. I could decorate it how I wanted, have a dog, and be truly independent for the first time.”
Sarah also received support from believe housing, including money advice when she first had household bills to manage and employability support during a short period out of work.
She said: “Having that support gave me the confidence to be independent and stopped the panic when I had to find a new job, because I knew I was not completely on my own.”
Sarah later joined Durham Constabulary as an apprentice, where working with spreadsheets and data opened her eyes to a new career path.
She said: “My dad is a data analyst and when I talked to him about what I was doing at work, he showed me more about data. It completely stole my heart. I knew I had to do this.
“After my apprenticeship I did a bootcamp in data analysis and a Level 4 course. Then I saw the apprenticeship with believe housing and it felt like the perfect fit.”
Sarah said her experience as a customer meant she already knew believe housing was somewhere she could feel supported, valued and able to grow.
She said: “When I saw my dream job and that it was with believe housing, it just seemed perfect.
“Because of my experience as a tenant, I felt like it was a place where I could fit in.”
Sarah, who now has a three-year-old daughter, has since moved into a different home closer to her family in the Ferryhill area.
Lisette Nicholson, Executive Director of Culture, Technology and Transformation at believe housing, said: “When people have a safe, stable home and the right support around them, it can provide the foundation to move forward with confidence and achieve their goals.
“Sarah’s achievement is a testament to her determination and commitment, and we’re delighted to welcome her to believe housing as a Level 5 apprentice.
“Her role is one of 12 apprenticeship opportunities we’ve created this year to develop future talent, strengthen our services and support rewarding careers in our communities.”
For more information about believe housing visit www.believehousing.co.uk
