My relationship with my mum had become so toxic that staying at home was breaking me bit by bit. Leaving wasn’t brave or dramatic… it was terrifying, deciding to leave meant walking away from everything I’d ever known, my friends, my family, my comfort zone.. .But I knew it was the only way I could protect myself – and my brother, who I treat like my own child. Everything I do is for him.
I was scared of everything – being alone, failing, not belonging. Education has always been my thing, my anchor… but at that point, I’d lost my sense of who I was. I didn’t know if I’d ever get it back.
My nan told me about Unitas, but at first I refused. When you feel so small, trying something new feels impossible. But, I was new to the area and I was desperate for somewhere safe – somewhere I could breathe without judgement. And that’s what I found.
It was the people. I didn’t have to pretend I was okay. Unitas gave me space to heal – and the push to grow. Yasmine especially… she’s more than a youth worker. She reminded me how brave I was, even when I didn’t feel it. She saw strength, capability, and potential in me when all I saw was fear and brokenness. She believed in me long before I believed in myself, she was one of the people who saved me. From the very first day I walked in, I knew I had found my community.
I loved learning – it was my thing – and when I discovered this boarding school, I wanted to go. But the tests and interviews felt impossible. I revised at Unitas, learnt my best way of studying there, and even practised interview questions with the youth workers. Yasmine’s encouragement and Unitas’s constant support built up my self-belief. Slowly, I started to think, Maybe I can do this! And I did. I remember the first thing I wanted to do when I got in – was call Yasmine and Oscar at Unitas!
Without Unitas, I think I’d still be lost. I might have given up on myself and never reached for the opportunities I have now. Unitas didn’t just change my path – they gave me one. If I met anyone in the same situation I was in, I would tell them that there is a safe place out there for you, and there are people who will believe in you until you can believe in yourself. I’d say to just give it a go, and that you won’t lose anything from trying, you’ll gain.
Now, I see a future where I can dream without guilt. I’m at boarding school, building a life I never thought possible. One day, I want to help young people, just like I was helped – maybe even teach abroad. Coming to Unitas, seeing the good that comes from it has made me want to help other young people. My whole journey has shown me: the right support can change everything.
“Without Unitas, I think I’d still be lost. I might have given up on myself and never reached for the opportunities I have now. Unitas didn’t just change my path – they gave me one..”
Real people, real stories
Over 15,800 young people have been members of Unitas since we opened in 2019. These are just some of their stories.
We’re more than a youth centre – we help young people unlock their potential.
