YWCA

what we do

Hayley

I was in with the wrong crowd before I started coming to YWCA. I had stopped going to school and was drinking heavily.

I left school because I was being bullied. One day I got beaten up so badly I ended up in the hospital with a broken nose and my cheekbone broken in two places.

I found it difficult to deal with the attack and got post-traumatic stress disorder. I just couldn’t face going back to school. I reported the attack to the police but nothing happened. I just didn’t know who to turn to.

I started drinking and taking drugs to try and block it out. I just didn’t know what was going on in my head. But it soon spiralled out of control. I was drinking everyday and sometimes got really aggressive.

Eventually I realised that this wasn’t me and it couldn’t go on. It was really difficult but with help and support from YWCA I managed to stop drinking.

Now I can share my problems with the support workers and other young women. They have helped me to slowly start to deal with things. They encouraged me to take part in lots of courses and get involved in campaigns. I’ve made films to raise awareness of alcohol abuse. I feel a lot more confident now.

I’ve now started a college course in health and social care. I really want to work with young people and help them. Coming to YWCA has helped me so much. Just knowing that someone is there if you want to talk, they’re like another family to me – everyone - including the girls that come here and the youth workers.

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