We’re delighted to share this inspiring story written by one of our fantastic young people. Within the story, they share their thoughts on reaching out for help and finding the confidence to take the next steps. Here is the story, written by Blue Fenwick.

“My first night and first time at the base.

My name is Blue. I recently came to Streetlife, and when I first came to the night shelter, I was extremely nervous as I did not know what to expect. I also was scared as I thought I would have to meet a lot of new people due to being autistic, but it was not as bad as I thought. I am glad I came to Streetlife because all the staff were welcoming and understanding of my situation.

The other young people are also welcoming to the newcomers. When I went to the base for the first time, I was so anxious, and then I met one of the staff members. They were so welcoming and understanding and calmed me down. Then, I met with some other young people who use Streetlife and started settling in. I liked seeing a friend here, too, who helped me settle in for my first night.

Once I made it through my first night, it became a lot easier to feel safe, secure, and even understood. It was difficult on my first night due to not knowing much about the charity before I got to the shelter that night. When I went to the base the next day, I did not talk much to anyone as I was nervous. I just sat in a corner on my phone and watched people play pool, but the next day, I was talking more and playing pool for the whole time I was there. I had a great time socialising with people who have been through the same thing or who are going through the same thing as me.

Everything is beginning to work out for me now that I have the support I need to move on with my life and the second chance I have been granted.”

At Streetlife, we work hard to support young people from all backgrounds across Blackpool. We know how difficult it can be to reach out for help, but we pride ourselves on making a real difference to people’s futures.

It’s great to hear that Blue was able to settle in quickly despite feeling nervous at the beginning. Thank you to Blue for letting us share your story; we look forward to seeing what the future holds for you.

If you’re a young person in Blackpool who is struggling, please don’t hesitate to seek support from us. You can find out more about the services we offer on our website. We have The Base and The Shelter available. Remember that you don’t need to suffer alone – we’re here to help.