Alex's Story

My name is Alex, I am 14, from Hall Green, Crigglestone. By attending sessions with youth workers, I have learned more about current issues nationally and locally, such as mental health, women’s safety, and anti-social behaviour. I have got a lot of help from Rachel and Skubie with coming out (sexuality) to my family, having discussions on how I can tell them in the right way, by showing my family this is me as a person and I am gay. By gaining confidence in knowing myself and my sexuality, my parents are supportive of my sexuality and the partner I am with. I have built a lot of stronger bonds with people in the group I have known for a while, as well as making new friendships with others.

By attending sessions, I learnt to be more sociable and friendly with other people, as when I was younger, I was very anti-social and didn’t interact with a lot of people my age. The youth group has not only helped me with coming out to my parents but quite a lot of other people inside and outside of the group.

A key moment for me was the mural. I enjoyed designing the mural, putting our message across to the community and getting the chance to graffiti, as this was something I’ve never done before. Being featured in the Wakefield Express newspaper, showing my friends and family what I’ve achieved with attending sessions with my friends and youth workers at group.

Both Rachel and Skubie have given me opportunities with learning, gaining new experiences such as going to Crofton Young People’s Centre, at the Young Steering Voice group, by meeting new young people and professionals, by having my voice and other young people’s voices to be heard, which I found my voice was never heard before attending Hall Green.