Hi Roomsponsor,
I’m Molly, I’ve just turned 22 and I used to live at YMCA. I’m not living there anymore because I’m now at uni! I’m studying Film Production, and in the future I hope to work in the film industry. But that feels quite far off right now, I’m only in my second year of uni!
Before I went to uni, I was living at YMCA. I had become homeless after I had to run away from home when I was 17.
When I was a child, my dad physically and emotionally abused me. My mum knew about it, but didn’t do anything. Eventually my teachers at school noticed my bruises and called Social Services.
When my mum found out that Social Services were getting involved, she sent me to Jamaica to live with her family. I was sent there on my own, and I didn’t understand why I was being sent away. I was only 14.
I lived in Jamaica for about 3 years, until I was 17. My mum didn’t really contact me much, but then she started calling me and telling me to come home. She told me that things at home were better now and that it would be ok.
I left Jamaica and moved back home. But, it was just as bad as before, nothing had changed. I ran away from home, and cut all contact with my parents.
I sofa surfed for a bit, then managed to get a job as a live-in nanny, but that fell through after a couple of weeks and I had to move out.
I couldn’t go home, I had nowhere to go. I ended up sleeping in Police Stations and park benches.
I hated sleeping in the parks, it was really scary and cold – I didn’t have a sleeping bag so I used to put all of my clothes on to try and stay warm. I never really slept properly, I would only ever drift off for an hour or so.
Eventually, I was referred to a women’s refuge. It was really busy and noisy. I didn’t really have any space, or anywhere I could go and just be on my own. It just felt really overwhelming. There also wasn’t much support, the refuge wasn’t staffed and no-one would show up for days. Most of the time we were just left on our own.
I was also only allowed to stay at the refuge for a year, which was really worrying as I didn’t know where I was going to go. But luckily when it was time to leave, the refuge referred me to YMCA.
The YMCA was so much more supportive than the women’s refuge – there was always someone there I could talk to. It was less busy, and there was more space. I’m quite a private person, so having that space made such a difference.
But the best thing about living at YMCA was my keyworker Kirstie. Kirstie is just amazing; she’s helped me more than I can describe.
When I came to YMCA I found it really hard to trust people, I’d been let down so many times. But after a while I realised I could trust Kirstie, and she never let me down. Before I came to YMCA, I had kind of shut off from everybody, and I found it hard to talk to people. But Kirstie showed me that I could trust people, and I started opening up more.
Kirstie didn’t just support me, she also helped me practically. I had been offered a place at uni, but didn’t know how I was going to afford to buy everything I needed like bedding, and pots and pans. Kirstie told me about some funding I could apply for. With the funding Kirstie found, I was able to buy everything I needed, including a laptop. And when it was time to move into halls, Kirstie helped me move into my new room.
Kirstie has just been so amazingly supportive, I feel like I have changed since coming to YMCA and meeting her. I am more confident and find it easier to talk to people. I still talk to Kirstie, even though I’m not at YMCA any more. Earlier this year, Kirstie helped me to find somewhere to live when I had to leave uni halls for summer.
I am so grateful that I found YMCA, and met Kirstie. If it wasn’t for YMCA, I could still be living on the streets. I wish you could meet all of the young people who have been helped by YMCA. If you did, you would see straight away just how much YMCA means to people.
Thank you for supporting YMCA, your support means so much to so many young people, who without people like you and YMCA, could still be living on the streets.
Kind regards,
Molly
Dear Molly, what another inspiring story of how YMCA help homeless, young abused people.
You have made enormous progress and wonderful, that you are now at Uni.
I do hope that life is now on track for you to achieve your dreams.
I wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year!
All good wishes, Norma.
Hi Molly, I have every confidence in your ability to get to where you want to go. With your life experiences as sad and tough as they have been they have given you the insight and strength to go forward. I wish you the very best in your chosen career and would like to know how you progress if possible. I would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and I will be routing for you in the new year.
Dear Molly,
Thank you for sharing your story about why you became homeless. It was very moving but I am so pleased you found the support, help and kindness at YMCA. Well done you to have achieved so much and I hope you continue to enjoy your time at university. I wish you all the blessings of Christmas.
Happy Christmas,
Anne x
Hi Molly. So sorry to hear you have had such a difficult time. It’s wonderful that you found the YMCA and that they have given you such wonderful support. Kirsten sounds as if she has given you such help and that is marvellous to hear. Wishing you very best wishes and good luck for the future. Jenny X