Paige’s Story

My name is Paige, I’m 18 and I’ve been at the YMCA since January this year. I came to YMCA after problems in my family home. I didn’t really get along with my mom, we used to constantly argue and I ran away a lot… I lived with my dad for a while, then things kicked off there so, I couldn’t go back and because I hadn’t been at my mum’s for so long, she didn’t want me back there either. That’s when social services got involved and because I was 17 at the time, they said it was better to go into supported living than into care. That’s when they found me a place at YMCA.

When I got here, I was kind of nervous at first because, obviously, you’re living on your own and at this point I was 17 – I think it’s a big thing moving out when you’re under 18, because you don’t know what you’re doing. I had no clue. I was like, “Oh great. What am I going do?” I was nervous about not knowing people here either, because I’m from Stafford, so I was moving somewhere I don’t know people and I’m learning how to take care of myself all at the same time… But I settled in after a couple of weeks and it was alright.

My Support Officers Mandy and Megan are great. Every Monday we meet which is really good. We talk about things that are going on, but even if everything is ok it’s still good to just have someone to chat to. I’ve started the George Williams Award which are workshops that help you with life skills. There’s a cleaning one and a budgeting one, which I’ve found helpful, because it helps you learn how to live independently, so when I do eventually move out on my own, I know how to manage things – I don’t feel as lost as when I first came.

I’ve been here 8 months now and I’ve already seen a massive difference in myself; in how confident I am living on my own but also in terms of my mental health, it’s so much better. I’m a lot happier now, I’ve found a job, I’ve made friends – I’m just a better version of myself now, I’ve grown a lot and I think that’s partly because I’m not surrounded by negative things and arguments, but also the support I’ve had from the YMCA team has really helped me. I’m living on my own but I’m never really alone, if that makes sense.

Before moving into YMCA, I thought I was the only one who had gone through that situation with my family, but when you start talking to other residents here you realise that actually those people have been through similar stuff, so you can talk about it and relate to each other which is helpful too. Since I’ve been here, I’ve joined a women’s rugby team, which I never would have done whilst I was at home because I wasn’t confident enough. Now I’ve made new friends and am more likely to talk to new people; I talk to people about YMCA and I’ve told them how much it’s helped me.

I’ve been looking for jobs constantly since I came to YMCA and I’m so happy that I’m starting a construction apprenticeship in a couple of weeks. I’m so excited and the best part is the site is right next door! I’d thought about doing construction at college when I was living at my mom’s but I backed out of it… but when I saw this apprenticeship and thought I’d give it a go – what else was I going to do with my time?

They invited me for an interview in June and I was really nervous but Mandy and Megan were hyping me up, telling me “You’ve got this!”. so I went to the interview, which I thought went well. I attended a work experience week, where I met my mentor, got to know more about the company and the work I’d be doing, which I enjoyed and then they turned around and said, they wanted to give me the job! So I start next week, I get to pick up my uniform and then I do a couple of weeks of training in Lichfield and start on-site next door once that’s completed. I’m just excited to start.

I feel better about the future now, my last job was waitressing which I hated, so I feel good going into a job that I’m looking forward to; they gave me good feedback at work experience as well so they’ve got confidence that I’ll be good at it, which gives me confidence. You’ve just got to step into things and give them a chance – I feel better about doing that sort of thing now.

I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received from YMCA; it’s only been 8 months and I’ve come so far!