From Social Worker to Service User

Lorraine’s journey from social worker to service user reveals the profound ways life can change when health challenges arise unexpectedly. After receiving six different diagnoses in six months, this Manchester-born professional found herself navigating the very support systems she once guided others through.

The conversation takes us through Lorraine's fascinating background – born to Jamaican and South American parents, spending formative years in Barbados, and eventually training as a social worker in 2008. Her dedication to supporting vulnerable families shaped her approach to her own challenges when health conditions forced her to step back from her career. With remarkable resilience, Lorraine applied her professional skills to her personal circumstances, methodically addressing financial constraints by seeking social tariffs and community resources like The Bread and Butter Thing.