Scott’s Story: how ABS supported him following a devastating accident and redundancy

“I was working for architects in Nottingham on a lot of listed buildings and private housing – the kind of stuff you dream about doing in architecture really. I was cycling to work on my push bike and I was crossing a road near the centre of town when I got hit by a car. The police said it was about 30 miles an hour. It hit the front wheel of my bike and pushed me up onto the windscreen. I hit my face on the windscreen and was thrown up into the air. I don’t remember much about it to be honest. I broke my eye socket and my cheekbone, fractured my skull and my eye was pushed out. I’m blind in my other eye anyway and could have lost my sight that day.

The trouble didn’t stop there really because I was made redundant on the day of my operation.

I was looking on the CIAT website where there’s a section about help for people made redundant and they put me in touch with the ABS. I got some financial help and it meant that I could just concentrate on getting better. I didn’t have to think about how I was going to pay the bills which is the sort of stuff you shouldn’t have to worry about when you’re in a state like I was. They’ve been fantastic, I can’t thank them enough really.

I feel a bit more mortal about it all now. I used to feel a bit invincible. I’m confident I’ll be able to get my life back on track and have a very bright future.”