It is fantastic to know that we have made a difference. Many children, young people and parents want to share their stories so that others in need of help can remain positive in times of crisis. Here, we have collated a number of those stories relating to all of our services:
During 2015, four female sessional workers, two of whom were using drugs, went on to get regular employment and apprenticeships. One had been excluded from primary school for violence and had embarked on a life of drug abuse. Another was painfully lacking in confidence and had no aspirations. She became a child-care apprentice. A third with similar problems gained a management trainee post for in Co-Operative Food. The fourth, a lone parent, who came to us looking for experience and who began an NVQ in youth work with us, became a salaried youth and children’s worker for a community centre.
In 2015, we worked with a teenager who grew up in a household with both parents addicted to class A drugs and he witnessed many episodes of domestic violence. He came to us with a history of crime and antisocial behaviour and was exclusion from mainstream education. We mentored him and trained him for his CSCS qualification. He now has a card entitling him to work on building sites and got work almost immediately. Another young person who was engaged in the drug dealing passed his CSCS test and is now earning £130 per day legitimately.
A quote from a 12 year old who started as a Junior helper:
“I used to be a street rat. I was a street merchant, shoplifting free view boxes from shops, vandalising cars, doing graffiti- I used to get in trouble with the police…now I have stopped stealing…my temper ain’t as bad any more…I want to be a role model to the kids here”.
More quotes:
“Thanks, you’ve been an amazing help sorting my son’s housing.”
‘Thanks so much for your help recently, it’s a massive help to me and I know my son has been saying to me that he appreciate too.”
“I wanted to call to tell you that I got into the college course you helped me apply for, thanks so much for all you did to support me.”