Alfie’s story
Inspiring Futures in Basildon
When the winter chills set in, so can the blues, with many young people struggling with their mental health as the cost of living and cold temperatures take their toll.
“I don’t do a lot of food shopping, and I go without eating a lot. Gas and electric – sometimes I can’t top it up, and it can be hard in the winter.”
In the darker days, our programmes with Sanctuary Supported Living provide light, helping young people to stay motivated and social and providing a range of health and wellbeing activities ignites their ambition to achieve their goals.
The responsive and tailored personal development programme delivered in Brighton, Basildon, Hartlepool, and Weston-Super-Mare develops the confidence, well-being, and self-esteem of young people, and provides a reason for the young people to get out and about, learn budgeting skills and connect as a group.
For determined 24-year-old Alfie, a resident in Basildon, the struggle was real; having previously experienced PTSD and anxiety, he lacked confidence and struggled to find motivation.
In December, we checked in with the group of residents to see the difference the programme made in Alfie's life. With hopes of living independently, he explains how the physical and team-building activities gave him a reason to leave the flat and refuelled his love for socialising:
“I feel more confident in myself now; I can set and follow goals. I’m doing lots more physical activity now, and I try to go to the gym most days, which helps with my mental health and wellbeing.”
When asked what he believes is the biggest challenge facing young people today, Alfie doesn't hesitate; for him, it's mental health and something he was keen to raise awareness of with his social action project. Working with his athlete mentor, Claire Bennett, former GB Fencing team captain and Commonwealth Gold Medal winner, Alfie wore yellow for World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity for mental wellbeing.
Beverley Ford, from the Sanctuary Housing team, highlighted the benefits of the programme for young people:
“The team feel that the programme had a great impact on the young people that it engaged. Initially staff were concerned that the young people would struggle with committing themselves to a 20-week programme, however the way that Claire delivered it, and how she related to them, meant that those involved looked forward the weekly sessions.
Every young person involved got something out of the sessions and have grown in confidence and motivation. The young people said that they found it easy to attend because they liked spending time with Claire and found that the one-to-one session helped build their confidence, gave them the opportunity to open up to someone other than staff and also helped with their mental wellbeing
”
Reflecting on Alfie's progress, Claire said:
“He has shown me how focused and determined he is to achieve his work-life goals, and I do not doubt that he will achieve anything he sets his mind to. His commitment to the programme inspired me every session, and any future employer would be lucky to have him on their team. I’m excited to follow his progress!”
Dame Kelly Holmes Trust created this programme following a listening exercise with 80 young people at 14 Sanctuary Supported Living centres framed around what the young people want, what matters to them most and what support they need.