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Thank you for visiting my site and blog. I have recently decided to change what the Website was initially about, due to changes in circumstances and the journey I now am on. I am currently homeless and living in Cornwall, in a town called Camborne. I am lucky and under the Governments initiative in terms of housing the homeless when the weather is cold (Cold Weather Provision) - I have a roof over my head tonight. My reason for being homeless is a complicated story, one of aspiration, one of loss, and more importantly - a situation whereby I am searching for myself, "Searching for Raymond".
My story is a complicated one, one which involves being an 'ex-offender', and since has found life and aspirations more difficult. I went straight after a 10 year spell of being a career criminal, from early youth to early manhood. I went 'straight' in 1996, and carved a career in Sales, Account Management, basically within the service sector after gaining IT qualifications. I was able to gain a career, because I had lied on my job applications and in interviews about my past criminal and convict record and history. Which, for those that do not know about the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), it is gross misconduct and a criminal offence, I lived in a state of paranoia, and permanent insecurity.
After serving a three year prison sentence, I am obliged by the law to disclose my conviction for 'life'. I lost a job late 2002 and decided to challenge my paranoia, I applied for many positions of which I was more than suitable. None ever replied or offered me an interview! I was depressed and down but still full of desire to get on with my life and ask questions of the system. I went to college, gained a place at the University of Leeds; and graduated Summer 2009 with a 2.1 (Hons) for a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Policy.
Seven months later I am now homeless, and without a job and debt ridden. I am logging my experiences and reflections, about the present, past and hope for the future. How could I ever say to a young criminal, and they are many I am seeing at the moment in the Hostels I am thankfully able to frequent during the 'Cold Weather Provision for the Homeless', that choosing a life away from crime is worth it!!
I hope you will follow my journey in the 'search for Raymond'. Again thank you for visiting my site.
Raymond
22nd February 2010
If you wish to contact me to discuss any of the issues discussed on this Website, please go to the contact me page.
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