At just 16 years old, Amy’s relationship with her mother deteriorated, she felt she had no choice but to leave home and ended up sleeping on the streets. She was preparing to take her GCSEs and had no experience of living independently, so she was scared about what lay ahead.
“When me and mum fell out I felt so alone. I didn’t know what the future would bring and I was terrified. YMCA, and especially Manjit my keyworker, gave me so much support. I didn’t feel confident about staying on to 6th form and doing A Levels, but Manjit was always there to encourage me. It meant so much that she thought I could do it.
I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t been offered a place at YMCA. I felt so safe in my room and, for the first time in ages, I had people I could turn to for help.”
Amy is now in her second year of University, studying Social Work. She has recently had a placement in a nursery and has decided that she definitely wants to work with children in the future.
A gift could pay for a young person to stay at YMCA where they’ll be safe and have the support of a dedicated keyworker. Please help YMCA to be there for other young people like Amy today.
*Amy’s story is true, but we have changed her name and used a model to protect her identity.
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