Life growing up was all right. I was never indoors – I wanted to go and mingle with the rest of the kids. I wanted to be one of them.

I was born in Ethiopia, into poverty. I lived with my mum, sister and nan – my dad came in and out of our lives.

Growing up, I was materially comfortable but constantly scared. My parents were verbally and physically violent, and I felt like I was always walking on eggshells…

I was in care at ten, running wild on the streets from a very early age. Then street homeless, in and out of prison – doing bad things to get drugs, doing bad things on drugs. I was lost, man.

I’m a widow and single mum. When my husband died, I stopped work to care for our son. I also found myself with new resources I’d inherited – and choices to make about how to use them.

I went straight from the airport to join the British Army when I first came to the UK from my home in St Vincent. I spent 12 years as a soldier, and served in Iraq. That was where I was travelling one night, in the back of an Army Land Rover, trying to get some sleep.

Before ACT, my life was run on self-will. God was around me, but I wasn’t open to him. I was using illicit drugs, a long-term relationship broke down and I became homeless. Then I went to jail.

I worked in government finance for many years, where my work included mentoring. I’m conscious of the blessing my home is so I wanted to help a charity that provides homes for others – and mentoring seemed a good way to get involved.

After a family move, I’m leaving my role as Housing Team Lead after 11 amazing years. But I can’t do that without sharing my journey with you. Back in 2011, I was working as a Ward Sister and really praying into my work future. Just a little while later, something extraordinary happened…

Victor spent at least four decades in institutions, from children’s homes to prison. He shares his journey in this 4-minute film created by ACT’s friend, photographer John Cairns.