A father who became homeless and was forced to live in his car after his marriage broke down has been reunited with his daughters, thanks to a Glasgow-based charity. Abibo Lima, 41, relocated to Scotland from Portugal in 2019 with his partner and their two daughters, hoping to build a better life together.
While things initially went well, cracks began to appear in their relationship over time. The couple initially sought counselling through Govan HELP, but eight months later, their relationship broke down completely, forcing Abibo to leave the family home.
“I have two daughters, aged 11 and eight,” Abibo said. “I hadn’t seen them in eight months. It was very hard. I felt angry that I couldn’t see my daughters, anxious about my future, and I was struggling to manage my diabetes.”
In desperation, Abibo turned once again to the local charity Govan HELP for support. The organisation stepped in to assist him, providing guidance and checking on his wellbeing. They also helped him secure a home suitable for him and his daughters.
“Amanda at Govan HELP supported me with everything I needed to get back on track,” Abibo told Glasgow Live. “ She would regularly check in on me, and when she called, it made me feel like someone cared. I didn’t feel so alone.
“Amanda constantly followed up with my caseworker to see if there was a house available, and finally, there was. She helped me get everything I needed to make it a home and even arranged for my daughters to visit me.”
Reuniting with his daughters was a profoundly emotional experience for Abibo. “The day I saw my girls again was very, very emotional,” he said. “At first, I felt like a new father, like they had just been born. We needed to reconnect.
“I organised a surprise party at my new home to break the ice. They were shy at first, but they eventually relaxed. I cooked, we played party games, and Amanda provided some toys for them. It was such a happy day.”
Abibo and his daughters now participate in family sessions organised by Govan HELP, which include activities like crafts, singing, dancing, and games. “The girls love the activities, and our relationship feels so natural now,” Abibo said. “They stay with me overnight every Thursday and Friday. They no longer feel like strangers, and I know they feel at home. I’m so happy.”
Reflecting on his journey, Abibo added, “Finding a home without help is so hard. I didn’t know where to start or where to get information. Without Amanda, I don’t know where I’d be—I’d probably still be homeless.”
Govan HELP is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, which recently awarded the charity a £133,000 grant. This funding enables Govan HELP to continue empowering families through early intervention programmes, including family support, play therapy, counselling, and training opportunities.
This week, The National Lottery Community Fund launched a new £166 million funding initiative to give Scotland’s communities a vital boost over the next five years.
The two new programmes, Community Action and Fairer Life Chances , aim to tackle poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination—three of the biggest barriers to empowering individuals and communities.
Kate Still, Scotland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re delighted to launch these new funding programmes, developed with and for Scotland’s essential community and voluntary sector. Over the next five years, we want to support activities that inspire community action and lead to fairer life chances for the most vulnerable in our society.
“None of this would be possible without National Lottery players, who can take pride in knowing their contributions will make a huge difference to people’s lives across the country.”
Applications for the new programmes opened on Wednesday, November 27. Organisations with funding ideas can contact The National Lottery Community Fund via email at [email protected] or by phone at 0300 123 7110 .
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