Swan have given me so much help moving in

“I’m Mumtaz Ahmed, 42, from the Bow Cross Estate. I live in the top of a regenerated tower block in Tower Hamlets and love reading about how other people became Swan residents, so this is my story.

“I was on Tower Hamlets’ transfer list for a larger property for over 15 years! I was living in a flat with three sons, when they are smaller you don’t realise how much you need the space. When they became young men they filled the place, so I was sleeping on the couch for over two years!

“It was difficult to leave my community as I had been living there for over 20 years and knew everyone by name. The kids living on the street where like brothers to my boys as they grew up together. They are only one [train] stop away now, so it’s not too bad.

Now we have the best of both - a new home with space and our friends nearby. It feels like we’ve been living
here for years. We are so comfortable.

“We are on the 23rd floor of a tower block in Bow. To me [the flat] it’s huge and the view is fantastic - I love it!

“It feels like home, the staff move away gangs and it feels safe. The staff are brilliant, they sort out any problems I have, straight away. There’s lighting everywhere - it’s so reassuring, it’s so nice. Swan are trying to make this estate even better too. I’m so happy here.

“My fresh start has encouraged me to look to the future, into becoming a Teaching Assistant. I’m using the Consultation Shop on the estate, where they are helping me with job searches.

“I wanted to tell people how much I enjoy living with Swan. They made it easy to move and I had help from them every step of the way.”