Dear RoomSponsor,
My name is Stephen and I’m 18 years old. I wanted to write and let you know how much your support means to young people like me who have been helped by a YMCA in the North East.
My little brother and I moved in with my granddad when I was two. We’d lived with our Mam until then, but she struggled with drugs and alcohol. She then went to prison which meant we couldn’t stay there with her. I really enjoyed living with my granddad. He did absolutely everything he could to care for us, and he made sure we went to good high schools and everything.
But two years ago, Granddad’s health got a lot worse. The authorities said he needed to be moved into a bungalow, but they wouldn’t let him have one while he was looking after me and my brother. They said we couldn’t live with him anymore.
I was only 16 and I’d never imagined I’d have to leave everything I’d known, all my security, so young. I don’t think many 16-year-olds would feel they could cope with that. My brother moved in with his Dad, but as mine had never been interested in me, I didn’t want to live with him.
It was so daunting to have to find somewhere to live on my own. I couldn’t stop worrying that I would end up homeless. It was such a relief when I walked into YMCA. The staff were so welcoming, and it felt like they really cared.
I moved into my own YMCA flat in the school summer holidays. That first morning when I woke up away from Granddad was quite scary. I didn’t know where to go or what I was supposed to do. Then my support worker knocked on my door to say hello and make sure I was alright. That was so good. She is amazing. She has made me who I am today.
Ever since I arrived, I’ve felt so supported. There wasn’t a single thing you could go to the staff with that they didn’t find a solution for. They helped me with budgeting, learning to cook proper meals and how to pay my bills. They’ve also helped me with writing a CV and signing up to job websites. Nobody had ever shown me that before.
I got a job in a restaurant while I was still studying, and I’ve been there a year and a half now. I finished college successfully, and I’m really proud to say that I’ve now been promoted to front-of-house manager. I really didn’t expect that at just 18.
Another huge achievement has been becoming a YMCA Youth Ambassador because I think young people’s voices and experiences need to be heard, especially by government. I even represented my area at YMCA World Council in Denmark. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do something like that.
I had been so worried about what would happen to me when I had to leave Granddad but I battled the fear and I’ve actually really surprised myself at how I’ve coped and what I’ve managed. It’s given me confidence for life on my own.
I’ve recently moved out of YMCA after two years and into my own place, but I know that YMCA will always be there if I ever need anything.
Thank you so much for being a RoomSponsor. With your help, other young people like me will have a place where they feel like they can belong and access to the support they need to turn their lives around.
Kind regards,
Stephen