The Terrence Higgins Trust’s refugee mentoring project matched me with a volunteer who gives me practical and emotional support. She sometimes meets me at home or we go somewhere else for a change of scenery. My mentor often attends appointments with me too and these aren’t always in my borough.

Soon after I met my mentor I became pregnant. I was so scared for this baby. It was a very difficult pregnancy. There were many complications, not just because of my HIV, and I was in hospital for a long time. My volunteer came to see me at home and in hospital. She helped me understand the doctors and understand that I could have a healthy baby.

For a long time, I couldn’t tell anyone else that I was there, in case they found out about my HIV. My community were extremely cruel to my husband and I couldn’t risk that for me and my baby.

I know that I can trust my mentor. She has helped me contact the council when my flat wasn’t suitable because I couldn’t manage the stairs – I now have a ground floor flat! She has also helped me to find a good legal aid solicitor and helped me to provide all of the necessary information – I was scared about doing this on my own and I was worried about making mistakes and my claim being refused. Since joining the project, I have felt supported, and I am much more confident now.

Photography posed by a model.