I had a very unstable upbringing. Life was hard for my parents after their divorce, so I moved between different relatives and family members. My mental health took a massive knock and I went from being a top student, to not knowing who I was or where I wanted to go.
At seventeen I was removed from the family home, and made homeless. I lost my safely net of having anywhere to belong. I spent two or three months on the streets, and time on people’s sofas and in hostels. I had hit an all-time low. I had absolutely no one, I didn’t have anywhere I could go, or anywhere I could call a safe space.
My Spear coach Becky came into my life at the best possible moment. When she first approached me to tell me about the Spear Programme, I was really reluctant. Standing in front of a group felt like my worst nightmare, and I really didn’t want to go. But after just a week on Spear, I felt like I finally had somewhere I could call safe. I started to open up; I felt like I’d made a family and a community with the coaches and other trainees. I am so thankful for that.
The Spear Programme filled me with skills and confidence that I didn’t have before, so I know I can go into interviews feeling really prepared. My dream one day is to be a social worker. My Spear coaches Becky, Anna and James have completely changed my life. I am so thankful for everything Spear has done for me.
