Maria's Story

I first came along to the sessions back in 2022 with some of my friends. I remember feeling really scared at first, I didn’t know what to expect, and it can be hard walking into something new. But from the very start, it was welcoming. One of the first things I did was play rugby with Nathan, one of the youth workers, and a group of people I had never met before. It turned out to be a great time. I laughed, joined in, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

But then things changed. I got involved with the wrong crowd and started heading down a path that wasn’t good for me. Because of that, I ended up being referred to some support services. At the time, I didn’t really see it clearly, but I was starting to drop away from the sessions and the good people around me. Even through that, Hannah—one of the youth workers stayed supportive. She never gave up on me, and that meant a lot.

Eventually, I made the decision to walk away from that crowd and come back to the sessions. When I returned, Rachel and Skubie were there, and we clicked straight away. Rachel was always ready to listen, no matter what I was going through, and Skubie had this way of cheering me up even on my worst days. It felt safe again, and I started feeling like myself.

Since then, I’ve grown so much. After isolating a lot during the pandemic and drifting from people who were good for me, I’ve managed to reconnect with some proper mates ones who actually care. I’ve become more social, more understanding, and I’ve learned to really listen to others. That’s something I never really used to do before.

Now, I make better choices. I try to avoid people who are involved in things I know I shouldn’t be part of. I’ve also learned to listen to the advice of those around me, because sometimes they can see things you don’t, and their advice can really help. One of the biggest things I’ve realised is how important family is. I used to put my mates above everything, even above my mum. But now, I’m closer to her again, and it feels so good to have that bond back. I’ve learned that you don’t need to ditch your parents for your friends, real love and support often starts at home.