Abbie’s Story

Abbie, now 17, has been part of YMCA Sutton Coldfield youth programmes since she was 10 years old. She first joined our holiday club during school breaks before progressing to weekly youth clubs, group workshops, and activities. When Abbie first arrived, she lacked discipline, struggled with social skills, and often became overly excited, leading to arguments with peers. Staff regularly had to take her aside to help her calm down.

As Abbie transitioned to secondary school, staff invited her to attend youth clubs to build a stronger relationship with her. It soon became clear that her home life was challenging—her mum had ongoing mental health struggles, other family members were involved in drug use, and her parents had recently separated. Although her dad was a consistent presence, Abbie primarily lived with her mum, visiting her dad on weekends.

Recognising the need for wider support, YMCA Sutton Coldfield staff worked with Abbie’s mum to connect her with essential services, including food banks, benefit support, and financial aid. Meanwhile, Abbie engaged in 1:1 mentoring and group workshops, where she developed coping strategies and vital social skills. Over the years, she has grown into a confident, compassionate, and resilient young woman, mentoring others and volunteering within YMCA Sutton Coldfield projects.

This year, after successfully completing her first year at college, Abbie pursued her lifelong dream of joining the Navy. With our support, she applied and was accepted into their programme, set to begin next year. We couldn’t be prouder of her journey and will continue supporting her and her family.

“YMCA have been amazing; they’ve taught me so much and helped me in so many ways. I really struggled when I was younger and they never gave up on me, that’s why I’ve stuck around for seven years! I don’t know where I would be without them.”

*not her real name