Rory grew up in an abusive home. When his mother finally escaped with the children, they all moved into a refuge. But aged 17, Rory was too old to stay with her. He had no contact with his violent father, and nowhere to turn.
Rory had no choice but to start sofa-surfing. It was an uncertain and unsettling experience.
The violence and fear that had plagued his childhood left Rory struggling with anger. He missed his mum and his siblings. Every day he felt like he had to climb a mountain just to keep going.
Today, life looks very different, thanks to the support of his local YMCA in the North East of England. With the help of our counselling service, he has started to reconnect with his family and deal with the traumas of his past.
“I feel safe at YMCA and do not have to deal with the domestic violence I witnessed against my mam. The counselling sessions are helping me deal with my anger.”
As a RoomSponsor you help YMCA provide more than 7,000 spaces for young people across England and Wales, 198 of which are in the North East.