Ashleigh’s Story
I’ve always been passed back and forth between different family members throughout my life.
Mum and I argued a lot when we lived together. She’d throw me out all the time so I didn’t have a stable place to call home.
My behaviour in school became quite bad because of the whole situation. My teachers didn’t seem to understand, putting me in a separate class to my friends. I transferred to a new school in the end and everything was okay for a bit but then just before my GCSE’s were about to start mum threw me out again.
Social Services stepped in at this point. I did ask to be placed in foster care because I just couldn’t deal with the whole situation and felt so upset and stressed out but luckily a place in one of Llamau’s supported accommodations came up and I’ve been there ever since and love it. I honestly couldn’t have been placed anywhere better. It’s like having a second family.
My support workers Tyler and Zoe have helped me so much.
Thanks to them and the Learning 4 Life team at Llamau, I’ve been given a great work placement and feel so excited about the future. I’m about to start a new placement working with people that have disabilities as one day I’d like to be a support worker myself.
I have friends around me now and only feel lonely some of the time but that just pushes me to do keep trying. This time a few months ago, college was completely out of the question but now working here and interacting with people I feel so much more positive about the idea of college.
I’m trying to do well for myself because no one else is going to do it for me.
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