Dear RoomSponsor,
When I was growing up, I lived with my mum and my dad. Living with my mum was lovely. I don’t blame her for anything that’s happened.
My dad, on the other hand, was a different story. It wasn’t so nice living with him. He was abusive towards me, my mum and my brother. Verbally and physically. He’d do things like force us to eat food when we didn’t want to. I remember there being a lot of violence, even when I was really young. We just accepted it like it was normal.
My mum did try to leave him a couple of times, but she kept coming back because she was promised things would change. I guess we all did different things to deal with the abuse at home. I tried to distract myself by hanging out with friends, but I got involved with the wrong people.
When I was around 16 or 17, everything went a bit pear-shaped. My mates would try to give me drugs and tell me to try it just to see what it was like. Me being young, I thought everything was a laugh and a joke. The rest was history really, because I got addicted to drugs and alcohol.
I found myself in a bad routine I couldn’t break. Every week, I’d work Monday to Friday, but as soon as I’d finish work I’d go out drinking and doing drugs. That was my coping mechanism. I tried playing football, but every time I went to play football I had to take drugs first. That was the only way I’d be able to do anything. It gave me energy and confidence, because without it I’d have shut myself away and not spoken to anyone.
When my family found out, they couldn’t have me at home. My mum had finally left my dad by this point and I had a new step-dad. He already had a young daughter of his own. So, it wasn’t fair to have drugs in the house or for me to be around her.
At the time, it was right for them to do that. To kick me out to protect her. But because I was shut off from my family, I found myself sofa surfing for two years. It was a really hard time for me.
I ended up living in a few different places. Sofa surfing, hostels, temporary accommodation. My life felt chaotic, and my mental health was suffering. I realised I was homeless. That was when I found YMCA.
When I first arrived, I was staying in YMCA emergency NightStop accommodation. These are beds for young people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets. I tried to behave myself – I was cooking in the kitchen and proving that I could change. YMCA was then able to offer me a room in their supported accommodation. They gave me a real chance.
One day, I called my mum on the phone and had a long chat with her. My brother had told her that because I was addicted to drugs and alcohol, I couldn’t see my nephew. That hit me really hard. That was a turning point for me, I knew it all needed to stop. I needed to stay in contact with my family so I went cold turkey.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. One night the police were called on me because I was really suicidal. Thankfully, my YMCA support worker Dale had been helping me access mental health services and fought my corner with them so they’d listen to me. It was at that point I was told I had Borderline Personality Disorder.
A big thing for me was just being able to understand my own mental health, and how it had affected my behaviour over the years. Once I got that diagnosis, that’s when I started to see a change in myself. I can talk about how I’m feeling a lot more now. I never used to talk, but now I talk all the time. If something’s wrong, I know can always phone Dale.
I have better hobbies now too. I go to church every Sunday. It was something I’ve done since I was young and I’m glad I’ve got back into it. I sing at church, as well as helping out with sound and production. Everyone has been really welcoming to me there.
Today, I’m clean from the drugs and I don’t drink anymore. Best of all – I’ve got my family back.
I’ve got my brother back, my nan, grandad, stepdad, mum. I’ve got them all back now because they’ve seen how far I’ve come. My nan even started crying to me one time, saying that she can’t thank members of YMCA staff enough for what they’ve done for us and how they never gave up.
I just want to say thanks to you for reading this and for being a YMCA RoomSponsor. Your support has meant I’ve had the stability of a safe place to live so I could start healing from the difficult years I’d experienced. I can now look forward to a positive future.
Best wishes,
Lucas
YMCA Resident
Dearest Lucas what a wonderful courageous young man you are. I’m so pleased you were able to dig deep inside yourself and make the support offered from YMCA work for you. I know this can’t have been easy but having someone believe in you and fight for you is so valuable and as you’ve found, life changing. May you go on to explore your gifts and talents and discover your purpose in life, and I’m sure go on to use your experience s to help others. My very best wishes to you and your family, so please you are in… Read more »
That’s brilliant Lucas. I’m so proud of the way that you have turned your life around.I, too, went through a very tough patch when I was in my fifties. My children had all left home to go to university and I felt so alone. I fought the same battle that you have fought against alcohol and won. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to help you
through my sponsorship.
I wish you the very best for your future.
Dear Lucas, I am so delighted to read your post and wish you the very best for your future. Your optimism makes me feel happy.
Well done Lucas! You have really turned your life around. It must have been difficult, but you did it. Keep up the good work!
Best wishes, Jill
Well done Lucas – what a positive story. Proud of you.
David
Hi Lucas – kudos to you for turning things around. All the best, Chris & Karen
Wonderful to read this and well done for being so strong and taking advantage of the new chance you have now. Wishing you all the best for the future too.
Well done Lucas
Dear Lucas, I was touched to read your story. It is It is great to read of your bravery and determination and the achievements you’ve made in overcoming the difficulties of your early life. It is good to learn of the positive changes you are making. May you go from strength to strength. Your story makes me glad to be a room sponsor.
You’ve had a very tought life Lucas but well done you for having the courage and perseverance to turn a corner and re-build your life. Your story is inspiring for many other young people with such challenges to overcome
Well done Lucas. Keep it going. Best wishes. Dave.
So encouraging to read your story Lucas! God bless you and help you to go on moving forward 🙏
All good luck for the future! So glad that the YMCA have been able to help you.
What a tremendous testimony, not only to the life-changing work of the YMCA but also to your courage and strength in taking responsibility for your actions and then taking such huge steps to change your life. Go Lucas
Well done, Lucas. Thinking of you and wishing you well.
I am so pleased to hear that you are doing so well Lucas and that our monthly contributions help to improve and change your lives and give you a place to stay while you are going through difficult times . Xx
So glad things have turned out well for you. You should be proud of yourself. Very best wishes for your future
So pleased to hear that YMCA helped you turn your life around. Best wishes to you and all your family
Well done Lucas!
I am so pleased that you came to YMCA and you took advantage of the opportunities that were offered to you and persevered through thick and thin to become what you are now. All the best for the future. Christine
That’s so encouraging, Lucas.
YMCA being a Christian organisation has demonstrated practical Christianity. With the help of the Holy Spirit you have been led to the place where you can rebuild your life and discover the Lord’ purpose for your future. He will never let you down. It is great news that you are both restored to your nuclear family and to the family of the Church. God bless you and keep you. Robert
Dear Lucas, reading your story makes our donations so worth while!
You have done amazingly well to now be in such a good place and may you continue to build on your achievements with the support of YMCA.
My son was an alcoholic and had to “hit” rock bottom before he realised what he was losing in his life. He went “cold turkey” and that was 10 years ago. He is a different person.
With all my good wishes and keep believing in yourself.
Norma