Kayse Maxamed fled from the civil war in Somalia in 1997. 'I only took a bundle of clothes and the absolute essentials that I needed. Although I felt terribly sad to be leaving, I had to get to a safe place and away from the chaos.'

He eventually came to Bristol and worked in various places before becoming a NHS Mental Health Worker.

'People were very friendly and made me feel welcome. When I moved to Bristol I really felt as if I began properly learning about UK culture. There was much more integration with the wider community.'

He had to adapt culturally, 'Learning the language was a big task I had to undertake but it was essential. One must do what one can to progress after all!'

Although Kayse is happy in Bristol, he regularly thinks of his homeland:

'I often still have nightmares about the war and the horrible things I saw happening in Somalia. These days I feel as if I am a Bristolian. There is no danger of getting shot or injured or facing extreme danger. Bristol is peaceful.'

Kayse is concerned that a few people don't understand the presence of Somali people in the city. 'Somali is one of the most dangerous places in the world and the wars made it a terrible place to live. We had to flee otherwise we probably would have died. I would like to thank everyone that helped me make Bristol my home and to build a new life here.'