Youth workers at YMCA Brunel Group have been providing Alice with one-to-one support over recent years both online and through walk-and-talk sessions. Like most young people, Alice struggled with isolation over lockdown. We provided her with valuable support to help her get through those tough times. Since returning face-to-face sessions, we have continued to work with Alice around friendships, bullying, mental health and family issues.
As a child, Alice was witness to traumatic domestic violence towards her mother. This included a serious attack after which her father went to prison. Alice’s father is no longer in prison, but her relationship with him is very unpredictable and has a major impact on her mental and emotional wellbeing. When we first started working with Alice, she had trouble trusting adults and building relationships with other young people.
Alice receives support from our youth workers through weekly welfare checks and increased sessions both online and in person. Through youth activities and small group work, we have watched Alice make connections with other young people and strengthen her confidence and social skills. YMCA youth workers have worked closely with Alice to provide a safe space, guidance and support through the challenges she faces. We have worked hard to ensure she always has someone speak to in a safe and constructive way.
We are pleased to see that Alice now regularly attends our youth clubs twice a week and engages actively with other members of the club. We have watched her grow into a confident member of the community. It is truly rewarding for our staff to see a smile on her face!
