“School was tricky. Both my grandparents passed away. I got bullied. I have a slight learning condition that really set me apart and the other kids really picked on me. When I left school at 16 I wanted to go to college out of county to try and avoid the bullies but my confidence was pretty low. I struggled with the travelling and felt isolated. My mental health was not good. I started self-harming and felt suicidal. When my mum became sick with cancer it really was the worst thing.

“It was my mum who took me into Young Gloucestershire. She was so desperate to see me happy. She had been trying to get me into a college for people with learning needs but it was proving difficult and expensive.

“I have been working with YG for just over a year now. In that time I have completed two of their training programmes, received counselling and used their drop-in service. In that year my mum passed away. I tried to end my life as I was in a really dark place. But Young Gloucestershire continued to support me and gave me hope. Without YG I don’t think I would be alive today.

“I have plans to volunteer with victim support and I hope to start at a mainstream college in September. YG not only helped me through the hardest year of my life but they have built my confidence up and shown me what I’m capable of. I know my mum would be so pleased to see me happy again.”