AAT success stories: escaping slavery and finding a new life with AAT

When Deepika Deepika was sent to the UK, she had no idea what was to come. This is how she broke away from a life of control and found a fresh start with AAT.

Deepika Deepika at a glance…

Age: 44
Top tip for students: Keep smiling, keep going and be an inspiration to others as they might be having a tougher time than you.

Deepika Deepika was married with three children and worked as an accounts manager in her home country of India. On the outside, everything might have seemed well for this highly educated woman. But Deepika had an abusive married life and, in 2019, was sent to the UK by her husband with two of her three children, where she became a victim of modern slavery. Her eldest daughter was kept in India as a controlling factor and all of her official documents, belongings and proof of identity were taken from her. 

She was kept as a slave to a family in Leicester for two years before running with her two children to the police and beginning the process to seek asylum. After moving between different cities and hotels, she ended up in Nottingham, where her social worker encouraged her to start studying again with AAT.

Finding AAT and starting again

Deepika started and passed AAT Level 2 and moved on to Level 3 in 2024, but this was to be the toughest part of her journey yet.

“I was having a lot of treatment and dealing with past trauma and all the physical and mental issues with my health, including PTSD, depression, anxiety and blood clots in my lungs,” she said.

“I’m on lifetime medication and my depression medication was at a very high dose. I was in hospital many times and, in May 2024, I was in bed for a month while being a single mum, but I still managed to take my GCSE maths, English and AAT Level 3.”

Deepika was determined to keep going, persevere and do whatever it was for herself that would make her feel better. She had to keep reminding herself that it wasn’t just her at the lowest point, and many others were suffering too. She wanted to take back control of her own life.  

Career aspirations and volunteering

Deepika can’t be employed in the UK while seeking asylum, but she has been doing voluntary work as a teaching assistant in her son’s school and at the foodbank in the church near her house.

Deepika’s goal is to get a job as an accountant, as she knows she has the skills and capabilities and is dedicated to her continuing professional development, attending AAT branch events and webinars. She has travelled to London for an AAT event, expanding her network and is also helping other students on their journeys.

Deepika added: “AAT is a great professional body that helps its members in many different ways, and they are really good at guiding you if you have any problems.”

Further reading

AAT success stories: from student to business owner

AAT success stories: a fresh start in a new country

AAT success stories: defying the odds to become a qualified accountant

AAT Comment offers news and opinion on the world of business and finance from the Association of Accounting Technicians.