Fighting social housing stigma: meet Raj

Raj Singh’s life story is an impressive tale.

A bright boy from a low-performing state school, he defied expectations by becoming a barrister and recovering from an almost life-ending stroke.

Born and raised in Manchester, Raj’s parents were in the first group of Sikh immigrants to come over to England in the 1950’s. His father was determined to make a life for his family in their new country and went on to start a business in the coal and construction industries.

“From a young age, I was inspired by my dad’s work ethic and love of business. However, at school, English Literature was my favourite subject. I was gutted when one year, halfway through the term, class was cancelled without warning.

Instead, my teacher took us to the library and asked us to look through the books and find something that could inspire a future career.

I came across a musty smelling hard back about English law and was engrossed. That was the start of my journey into law”, said Raj.

A self-described ‘class clown’, Raj liked to look out for those who were less able than him, including a classmate with learning difficulties who was being bullied.

These formative life experiences cemented his belief that a career in law was the right path for him. 

“I’d watch people mock this kid and feel the need to stand up for him. I thought to myself: Raj, you’re loud and boisterous, you need to stand up for others that might feel like they don’t have a voice.”

Raj’s ambitions were met with little support from those around him.

“After the library session, my teacher came round and asked each of us what our future plans were. I said, “I want to be a barrister” and could tell he thought that’s never going to happen. 

My parents wanted me to leave school and go into work straight away. They thought I’d be better suited to a job as a mechanic, where I could earn immediately, without having to go to college. Despite their concerns, I knew I had it in me. I was intelligent and could read and write well,” Raj continued.

Raj proved himself as a hard worker from a young age. He worked three jobs to support himself through college, stacking shelves in the local Co-Op in the evenings, at his dad’s cash and carry on the weekends, and one day a week at a local market stall. 

The only one of six children to go to university, Raj studied law at Staffordshire university, was called to the bar in 1992 and qualified as a barrister in 1999.

Now married and with two children, he took on a role as a criminal and family lawyer at a practice near Embankment and worked there for ten years. 

“An opportunity came along to work in commercial litigation for the British Railways board and from there I went to work as a director for a construction waste company. 

There I earned a certificate of technical competence for managing waste facilities, a specialism that stood me in good stead to start my own business.”

Raj set up a business on his own with little more than a credit card to front the initial costs. Nine years later, the business had flourished and employed 200 people.

Raj sold up after the credit crunch and moved to a consultancy role in Manchester. 

Seven years later, Raj’s life turned upside down when he suffered a massive stroke in his late 40s. With a bleed on his brain the prognosis looked bleak, and he was given just six hours to live. 

“It was a very scary time. I was speaking on the phone to a client, and it felt like my voice was bubbling, a bit like I was gargling water. I knew something wasn’t right. I dialled 999 and told them I think I am having a stroke.”

Miraculously, he pulled through those critical hours, but the stroke left a devastating impact – he was paralysed down his left side and now relies largely on his wheelchair to get about. 
Not only had the stroke affected Raj’s balance, but he’d lost 10% of his brain function.

Staying true to his sunny nature, Raj remained positive during his 49-week stint in hospital.

“I made it my mission to be the ward clown and tell jokes to cheer people up,” Raj said.

When he was eventually discharged, he moved into a semi-detached house. His new home didn’t meet his needs – and he moved into an L&Q socially-rented accessible flat in 2018, where he has two carers to help in the mornings and evenings.

“I have to say, what surprises me, maybe it’s because of who I am, I have never felt lonely, or anything like that. Living here has been a lifesaver, I think otherwise I would have had that evil thing called depression, but because I am a bit of a nuisance, I get on well with my neighbours and can have a laugh.”