Myles' - Story
Before I started the programme, I really didn’t want to have a life, I was vulnerable, and I was self-harming. I have Borderline personality disorder and also an eating disorder. I’d also lost my jobs and I was having problems at home.
At this time, I also had a hard time being trans, it played on my mind and it was easier to not hide it anymore. I didn’t want people to know at first, but as time went on, I really began to trust the group and I decided to tell them. We did a session called Crossing the Line where we tell everyone about our lives, and we are as open as possible, so I decided to share my story with the group. I actually found it really ‘calming’, to get it over with. The group were really supportive and it wasn’t a big issue with my friends, there was no negative experience, no hostility. It was reassuring that it wasn’t going to affect my time on the course.
At the start of the programme, we did a lot of team building exercises, a lot of strategy stuff. We did loads of activites like playing rugby, doing circuit training and having a go on a climbing wall… I liked any of the games where we were running around, anything involving a ball – activity that got me involved in something else to stop my mind chattering away.
I used to have a lot of anger issues and while I still have difficult days, I am generally feeling better although I know I’ll have a lot of these feelings for the rest of my life. I’ve found exercise really helps to manage my frustrations. I have a punchbag at home and working out on that has been really good as has been doing more walking.
When the weather improves, I want to get back into weightlifting, we don’t have any space inside to do it at the moment, but I was doing it loads last year, so I hope to get back into that soon.
“The amount I’ve seen Myles grow over the last 12 months is testimony to his commitment to getting himself in a good place. How he’s used physical activity to help him, is proof of the positive effect it can have on anyone. ”
James Kirton, Athlete Mentor
Overall, it’s been really good working with Paul and James (my athlete mentors). It’s reassuring to know they’ve been through things, they were young once as well and there are ways to improve throughout your life. Whenever someone was having a bad day they’d listen, they ensured that everyone was included and that everyone had a chance to be part of the group and tell their story.
Over the last year this programme really gave me something to look forward to, it’s given me a purpose in life. I have a new partner and I’m enjoying meeting new people with them, I used to always shut myself away. I’ve also learned that I’m good at things and I’m doing online learning and finding out about new subjects that I know are going to help me in life, things like awareness of bullying, mental health in children and young people. I’m hoping to get back into education or do some volunteering placements in the next six months.
I’d definitely recommend this course to other people. After sessions I’d go home and talk to my friends about it. I was explaining to them about things we did that really helped me and telling them it could be good for them as well.
Myles attended the Get on Track for Wellbeing programme in Scarborough in partnership with North Yorkshire Sport. Thanks to funding from Sport England, we are working with 700 young people in coastal communities all across England to help them become more active.