Tyrone’s story

Too many young people across the UK are dealing with mental health issues, whether it’s worrying about finances, feeling isolated and lonely, struggles with employment or other things that crop up day-to-day.

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust alongside the Swale Leisure Trust have been working extremely hard over a successful 9-year partnership, helping to transform young people’s lives in the Kent area and give them the tools and coping mechanisms to help with mental health.

Tyrone was part of one of the many programmes the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust offers. The Get on Track is a wellbeing programme for young people aged 16-25 delivered in a community setting. Working with a diverse range of young people, the programme is designed to build confidence, resilience and self-esteem, as well as focusing on becoming physically and mentally healthier.

Before starting the programme, Tyrone was struggling with his mental health and felt lost. The programme helped him regain control of his life, with athletes Claire Bennett and Tre Whyte guiding him towards a more positive mindset.

When asked what he believes the biggest challenge is facing young people aged between 16-25, Tyrone highlights the difficulties of finding employment. He stated that since school he has found himself bouncing around in many different jobs - yet none have been what he really wants to do.

Whilst always knowing he has had a love for the gym and working out - it was with the help of Claire and Tre that Tyrone realised he could pursue a career in this, in the form of personal training. During the programme Tyrone started a course and worked on gaining a qualification to become a Personal Trainer.

Tyrone said that both athlete mentors ‘100% helped’ him both mentally and emotionally, particularly when they did activities like ‘Walk & Talk’. He felt as though both the programme and the mentors helped him to be more social - which was something he used to avoid, as having grown up with an athletic background himself - he felt he could relate to them.

Reflecting on working with Tyrone, Claire said: “Tyrone had difficultly seeing things through to the end at the start of the programme. He experienced a lack of routine before taking part in this programme. From day one, he has shown us the utmost respect, dedication and determination to succeed.’’

“He was very disciplined in his approach to finish this programme, and he has gone above and beyond in every single activity on the programme. He is consistent, reliable and an amazing team player. He is really clear on what he wants to achieve in his life beyond the programme,” said Claire. “I have no doubt that he will go on to become the PT that he wants to be. His proactive and can-do attitude means that he is a huge asset to any team. I am so proud of Ty. I cannot wait to see what he achieves in the future."

Tyrone expressed feeling consistently motivated and encouraged to be more open, leading to a boost in his self- confidence. This newfound enthusiasm for life has inspired him to return to education, paving the way for him to pursue his dream career.

“I was in a dark place, I won’t lie. I had given up on life and just accepted that it is what it is, but Claire and Tre helped redirect me. I’ve regained control.”

When asked what his highlight was from the Get on Track programme, Tyrone mentioned that it is the way every session started. They’d all sit in a circle and reflect on how they were feeling on that day, knowing they could be open and honest. The athletes joined in too which helped him to know that he wasn’t alone and other people were feeling the same way.