I grew up on a council estate in in Beechdale, Walsall and to be honest my early years were tough. My mum worked incredibly hard as a single parent to give us everything we needed, often going without herself. At the time, I didn’t realise that I had ADHD but looking back a lot of my struggles make sense now.

At school, I did well because I had structure. But outside of that environment, things started to unravel. I felt lost. I struggled to fit in and spent a lot of time trying to please others and be someone I thought people would like. That led me down the wrong path – mixing with the wrong people, taking risks and making decisions that weren’t good for me or my family.

My mental health declined and I reached a really dark place. I didn’t ask for help because I didn’t understand what was happening to me. Eventually, things came to a point in my life that I knew something had to give.

At this same time I also experienced homelessness. It was another wake-up call. I realised I needed to remove myself from the environment I was in, so I moved away from the West Midlands which was scary but gave me the space to reset.

For the first time, I stopped trying to be everything to everyone else. I began to focus on being myself. Over time, I rebuilt trust with my family and regained my confidence. After a few years, I felt strong enough to return home.

Becoming a mum was another turning point for me. I had my first child at 20 and later went on to have three children. I was determined to create a different life for them and to show them that where you start doesn’t define where you end up. I wanted them to thrive, not just survive.

Along the way, I also experienced an abusive relationship, which made me reflect on the choices I was making. Over time, I began to understand how my ADHD and past experiences had influenced those choices. That awareness helped me change my mindset and break those patterns.

I started volunteering at local playgroups and youth clubs because I wanted to do something meaningful. That’s where I found my passion – supporting young people. I understood what many of them were going through because I’d been there myself.

One day, while volunteering, I met two people from whg who encouraged me to apply for a Community Champion role. At first, I didn’t think I was “good enough,” but I went for it anyway. What stood out was their approach – they didn’t use a traditional interview panel. Instead, they focused on how we engaged with others. That made all the difference to someone like me.

I got the job and that’s when everything really changed.

Over the past nine years at whg, I’ve grown in ways I never thought possible. I started as a Community Champion, a role where whg recruits people directly from its communities. Community Champions use their lived experience and local knowledge to encourage and support people, helping to understand our communities and design services that meet the needs of real customers.

I then became a Health Officer, before moving into social prescribing and later working with young people in temporary accommodation and at risk of homelessness.

Now, as Youth Coordinator leading whg’s Work Matters 4 Young People programme, I support young people who are not in education, employment or training and are facing real barriers, many of which I recognise from my own experiences.

Some are care leavers navigating life with limited family support. Others may be dealing with difficult personal circumstances, mental health challenges or a lack of access to the same opportunities that other young people benefit from.

My lived experience is at the heart of everything I do. I don’t walk into a room ‘suited and booted’ – I go in as myself. I understand the challenges because I’ve lived them. That builds trust and trust is everything.

Every day is different. One day I’m helping a young person apply for an apprenticeship, the next I’m running confidence-building activities like escape rooms or outdoor experiences. These moments matter. They help young people discover their strengths and build belief in themselves.

One of the things I’m most passionate about is the Youth Trailblazer programme and the Youth Guarantee particularly the 12-week paid work placements. I genuinely believe they can be life changing.

If I could say one thing to employers, it would be to get involved.

Those 12 weeks give young people something they often don’t get in a traditional recruitment process and that’s time. Time to settle in, build confidence and show who they really are. If, like me, you’re neurodivergent, interviews can be tough. You might not come across as your best self straight away. But when you’re given the chance to relax, feel safe and be understood, that’s when your potential really shines.

It also gives employers the chance to see beyond a CV and to get to know the person behind it, their strengths, their determination and what they can bring to a team.

We need more opportunities like this. Young people don’t need everything handed to them, they just need a chance. A chance to prove themselves, to grow and to believe in their own potential.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give, it’s to volunteer if you can. Build experience step by step. Sometimes all it takes is one opportunity, one person believing in you, to change your path.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come but more than that, I’m proud of what it means for my children. I wanted to show them that your past doesn’t define you and that you can change your story.

And now, I see that same transformation happening in the young people I work with every day.

Because talent is everywhere but opportunity isn’t and every young person deserves that chance.

Work matters for young people

Aged 18–21? Get ready to start something new