Luke

Dear RoomSponsor,

My name is Luke, and I came to a YMCA in the East Midlands at just 16 years old. I want to share my story, so you know how your support as a RoomSponsor gives young people like me the chance to find a safe place to call home, and the opportunities to transform our lives.

 I don’t have many happy memories of my childhood. There was constant fighting in my house between my Mum and Dad who are divorced now. My Dad is an alcoholic, and he would emotionally and physically abuse me.

My mental health suffered as a result, and I developed anxiety and depression. I just remember struggling to cope with life and feeling completely overwhelmed. No one tried to help me or understand, not my family or school. I felt neglected and like I didn’t belong.

In the end I couldn’t take the abuse anymore and I left, spending a year sofa surfing with friends. It was a horrible time. Waking up every morning, knowing it wasn’t my own place and having to ask people for things was so humiliating. Then the friend I was staying with couldn’t afford to support me anymore which I totally understood. I didn’t expect him to provide for me forever. So, I took my sleeping bag to the local park and did my best to survive on my own.

It was really scary – there were always fights and things kicking off. I had nothing – no money and no self-worth. I was extremely anxious and constantly looking over my shoulder for danger. I was self-harming and felt suicidal.

I was constantly hungry but at the time I just felt too ashamed to go to a food bank. I now know lots of young people who use them all the time because they just can’t afford the cost of basic food. I walked the streets to try to pass the time and get through the long days and nights. I know some people might wonder why I didn’t just go home at that point, but it actually felt safer to be homeless than back with my Dad.

Everything started to change when a friend who had stayed at YMCA before encouraged me to get in touch and I was offered my own room. It had a single bed and drawers on one side and then a sink, oven and fridge freezer on the other side. It was absolutely brilliant. I felt really comfortable and safe for the first time in my life.

Being off the streets meant I could actually sleep at night. When that door opened for me, I knew I had found a place to call home.

 The most important thing for me is that from day one the YMCA staff never judged me. They always made me feel welcome. They took their time to get to know me and didn’t just give up which I am so grateful for. I was given my own counsellor – Helen – who is amazing! She made it so easy for me to open up and has made such a huge difference to my self-confidence.

I’ve attended mental health workshops and found ways to manage my anxiety. I am a completely different person. I no longer self-harm and I feel in a much better place.

The staff also talked me through my career options and gave me the space to discover where my skills and passions lie. I ended up going to college and gaining qualifications in English and Maths to help with my future employment. At YMCA there are lots of opportunities to get involved in things and volunteer. For example, I helped to run the new YMCA youth club which I think is a great place for kids and teenagers to socialise. It’s a safe place to hang out with your friends but there are adults there to confide in if you want to.

So, what’s next for me? Well, I’m currently looking for a full-time job so I can move out of supported housing and into a place of my own. YMCA staff are supporting me with the housing application process and giving me advice on the benefits and grants available. Financial stability is important to me, and I want to make sure I can live independently for the long run.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and learn how, with your support as a RoomSponsor, I was able to turn my life around. I hope that more young people at risk of homelessness are given that opportunity too. I believe that at the end of the day, everyone deserves the chance for a brighter future, no matter what their background.

Kind regards,

Luke