I’m Stella from Llandovery and I’m 24-years-old. I was born with Mosaic Down Syndrome, a very rare condition, which gives me some difficulty in socialising. As a result, I was bullied in school.
Luckily, I was not lonely because I really liked drawing and reading. But after I left school I became quite isolated, and for that reason YMCA has been great for me and given me lots of opportunities to learn and be with other people.
What has YMCA done for me?
Llandovery is a very small town. We recently lost our secondary school in a merger, and our town sadly feels really quiet because of this.
However, I go to a great fitness class at YMCA, which, although tough, is huge fun. I also attend art therapy sessions, which includes fun outings and I am starting a Public Skills Service course to help me set up my own art-based business very soon. This is thanks to YMCA. Staff there like Jill, Steve and Moira have all been eager to help me and they have been supportive throughout. It’s made a huge difference to my life.
How have I helped out in this manifesto?
Earlier this year, I attended a Manifesto focus group organised by the National Council of YMCAs, which gave me the chance to contribute my ideas to this piece of work. Like many people at the event, I appreciated the time YMCA gives to me to be sociable. One lady from our group added that say she can now give herself time off from looking after her autistic son, thanks to YMCA. We had others attending who had varying degrees of special needs and, like myself, they depended on YMCA for their social life and hoped they could keep coming always! As I am not a great speaker I was able to write my contribution to the Manifesto, which I enjoyed.
What I want this manifesto to achieve
People like me who have mild special needs are a neglected group. Because we don’t need a lot of help, we don’t get any at all. I am lucky to have very supportive friends and family but others do not have that. Even so, I would be lost without YMCA. Politicians need to recognise us as a neglected group and make more funds available to groups like the YMCA who fill the gap. I would also like a safe and supervised internet connection to talk to other people similar to myself. There must be many others who are lonely, too.
Read our YMCAs in Wales Manifesto. Show your support on social media with the hashtag #YMCAforWales