Kayleigh experienced severe bullying at school which gravely impacted her mental health and left her feeling isolated. Luckily, she found her way to YMCA East Surrey’s mental health and wellbeing programme WAVES and over time grew more confident and independent, even passing her A-Levels and becoming the first person in her family to go to university. Kayleigh has also shown great compassion for others at WAVES, becoming a Mental Health Champion and great role model, even helping to maintain online support when COVID hit.
In her spare time, Kayleigh created positive mental health activities that young people could do at home, recorded videos around how to look after your mental health during lockdown, and led Zoom sessions alongside youth workers around important mental health and wellbeing topics. Kayleigh helped to keep WAVES going and strengthened the online community.
While Kayleigh has overcome what happened to her, some days still are harder than others, however she has turned her experiences into something positive and will not let it stop her from pursuing the things she wants to do.