kieron’s - story

get on track

Before attending the Get on Track programme I was really low on confidence and had been looking for work. When I was 16, I had to leave home and I spent the next few years in and out of hostels which was really tough. Sometimes I slept on park benches or on a friend’s sofa because the hostels could be really difficult. I’ve been living in my own flat in Maesteg for the last 4 years now and things are a lot better, and life is starting to come together.

I think the most useful thing about the Get on Track programme was getting to know new people and building my confidence back up. It's helped me become more confident with speaking to people and also asking people for help when I need it.

The face to face sessions helped me get back to going outside and visiting new places, and practice talking with other people. I’ve definitely learned how to present myself and talk with others to work as part of a team. I’ve also learned to take time to plan things out before starting them and that has helped my confidence. I’ve also realised how far I have come and learned to be really proud.

I found working with my athlete mentor Liz Johnson really helpful because she showed us a range of activities to bring out the best in us and made everyone comfortable. I felt like it was a relaxed environment, and everyone was encouraged to work at their own pace. She really helped me to focus on a goal to reach and to plan out how I was going to get there. So now for example when I go to the job centre, I plan out better what jobs to look for and what qualifications I need, and I research if I have them or how I could get them in the future.

Having an athlete like Liz as a mentor was great because it really helped you understand that no matter what might be going on your life, you could still achieve things and reach your goal. From Liz I learned to be aware of the comfort, stretch and panic zones and now I always take time to figure out what I need to do, so that I can remove myself from the panic zone.

LIZ JOHNSON

“The biggest thing for Kieron was that in the beginning he didn’t want to speak. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the answers or want to engage it was just that often took a bit more time to respond and didn’t feel confident. Once that barrier went, we really saw him start to flourish.”

For our social action project, we arranged to do a litter pick on the local beach which made me feel really good as I knew we were making a difference and helping out the local community. It got a little bit competitive, and we decided to see who could find the most rubbish and I managed to find the most!

My favourite activity on the programme was when we went wall climbing because it was fun and it helped me see how far I’ve come on the programme and brought everything I’ve learned together. I was not scared to take on the challenge or ask for help and I was happy doing it either by myself or with others and I wouldn’t have been able to do this activity at the beginning because I would have been too scared to come into the building. The feeling when I got to the top of the wall was really good, because I knew I had achieved something I previously couldn’t have done.

I feel Get on Track has had a really good impact because I’ve become more confident in myself and when working as part of a team and it really helped with interview skills and finding a job. I’m really pleased that I’ve got a summer job now working on a young people’s play scheme through Bridgend County Borough Council. I’m looking to work within the sports industry as a career so doing this will open up opportunities for me.

I’ve realised that everyone goes through a process and I’m not the only one who is nervous, which has helped me try new challenges and become more comfortable. I’ve got loads more confidence now than I had at the start of the programme.

Mari Sutton who works for Bridgend County Borough Council said:

There are a lot of children and young people who for whatever reason school just isn’t for them They get lost in the system and they end up in the job centre where there are lots of people with all kinds of different needs, and they just need some help. Help to just get that step closer to the job market. Get on Track really helps the young people build individual confidence and we could just do these programmes back-to-back.

Liz explains to these young people what determination really is.  Determination to reach their goal and the young people really thrive on this – Liz says, ‘I achieved things, so why can’t you?’ It really makes them stop and think about what they can do. She can talk to them about commitment, dedication and all of that but the most important thing she does is talk to them and make them understand the importance of determination. Liz is someone for them to look up to and so they can strive to be the best version of themselves.

Over the course of the programme, I’ve seen Kieron change from someone who wouldn’t speak and wouldn’t put his camera on during Zoom calls to being the biggest part of the team by the end. His knowledge on so many subjects was excellent, but he was never confident enough to answers things or put himself forward at first, but by the end that all changed.

He’s now come to work with me on the summer playscheme run by the council. He participates in everything and runs the football for the children aged 8 - 11 every day. He takes time out for the children and is really connecting with them.

He gets on well with the other staff, he really is doing fantastic.

Kieron attended our Get on Track for Employability programme in Bridgend which was funded by and run in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council.