• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hounslow Action for Youth

  • Home
  • About Us
    • The charity: HAY
    • Our Impact
    • Our Donors
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board of Directors
  • Young People and Families Services
    • Social Enterprise Project
    • Youth Bonds Project (YBP) (ages 7-12)
    • Young Women’s Creative Writing (ages 13-18)
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Trustee
  • Contact Us

Anna’s Story – in her own words

I have been attending the Young Women’s Project for over a year.

I would say that when I started I was an angry person who got myself into a lot of trouble. I have been through a lot in my life and feel this was the reason I was so angry – I bottled it up which made it worse. I did speak to a person at school when I was younger and didn’t like how they dealt with me, I felt judged and they felt sorry for me which is not what I wanted or needed.

Since attending the project I have built up great trust with the staff, I feel genuinely cared about and after sometime I started attending 1-1 sessions which I found hard at first but felt comfortable enough to open up and be honest about my past. I felt relief to be able to talk about it and not be judged. I was listened to, respected and given advice and taught techniques which really helped me overcome my past and my anger issues. I have a book which I write affirmations in and my goals – it helps to track my progress and helps get things off my mind. This really helps and makes me proud to see how I have changed, I feel much better about myself.

The sessions are just as important to my progress and we all really enjoy attending. We have done and learnt so much. We have meetings with staff so they get our ideas about what we should be doing – we all agree as a group. We have done drama, cooking, exercise, a programme of sexual exploitation and made a film, the baby project was good, we took home an electronic baby to see how it would be to be a teenage parent. We have taken part in things we never would before, we did the Duke of Edinburgh award – I would never go camping but feel safe stepping out of my comfort zone with the group.

We have bonded as a group and matured, we look out for each other and new members who join. I feel trusted by the staff as they give us opportunities.

It’s helped us all develop and grow, we feel part of the project not just young people who come and take part. We have a say, we are listened to and respected. The project has positively impacted my life and the life of those who attend in so many ways. We have grown in confidence, feel better about ourselves, more positive and know how to take care of ourselves.

The images and names in this story have been changed to protect the privacy of our project users.

Filed Under: Uncategorised

< Christopher and Anthony’s Story
Sally’s Story >

Primary Sidebar

Testimonials

15th February 2020

“The Writing Project has allowed me to have a voice, I was able to write about my experiences” Care Leaver, 19

default image

Twitter

Twitter
Hounslow Action for Youth
Hounslow Action for Youth
@HounslowAYouth

HAY are looking for new trustees to join them! Be part of a wonderful charity making positive changes for young people and their families! #trustee #trustees #charity #volunteer #support pic.twitter.com/kQ3LU4Hr2X

reply retweet favourite
4:06 pm · 28th February 2023
Follow @HounslowAYouth

Search

Footer

Funding from:
The National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Henry Smith Charity
The William Wates Foundation

Contact us

HAY
Marjory Kinnon School
The School House
Hatton Road
Feltham, Middlesex
TW14 9QZ
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Young People and Families Services
  • Get Involved
  • Contact Us

Get Social

Registered Charity No. 296372

© 2023 Hounslow Action for Youth · All Rights Reserved · Website by Charity & Biscuits