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PRINTRichard Connor
Richard Connor is from Belfast. He is married with three children and for many years ran his own business. However, due to the recession and the terrible effect this has had on small businesses he was forced into bankruptcy.Going into bankruptcy was very hard for Richard. “Nobody wants to go into bankruptcy. It is an extraordinary circumstance to find yourself in, but there are no extraordinary measures to help you out of it.”
Richard had to use his assets to pay off his debts, which meant selling the family home and the remaining assets from his business as well as using up the last of the family’s savings. They were forced to move into rented accommodation with only state benefits as their main source of income. “Things that I once took for granted, such as a telephone bill, became daily pressures. Quite often we had to rely on the support of our extended family, or we would go without.”
Richard believes in hard work and providing for his family, so he did not go into bankruptcy lightly. “I felt like a failure, I doubted my ability in business and for the first time I doubted my ability in life.”
Then Richard found Elizabeth Finn Care. He was desperately looking for ways to get his life back on track and support his family. He was put in touch with Elizabeth Finn Care when someone recommended the Turn2us website (www.turn2us.org.uk). With the help of Elizabeth Finn Care Richard is rebuilding his life. He is studying for a degree and hoping to enter a new career in business lecturing. Of Elizabeth Finn Care he says, “We did not believe such an organisation existed. One that is so helpful and understanding of your situation, receptive to your needs at the most difficult time in your life. They have really helped us and I say that without exception as everybody else did not want to know. Elizabeth Finn Care has been a very positive experience in a very dark time.”