My relationship was going through a particularly bad patch. Eventually my partner just up and left. All the arguments and him going had a big effect on my teenage son Lewis. He has some learning difficulties and began spending more and more time in his bedroom.  When he wasn’t in his room he would be out with friends. His schoolwork was affected, and he would keep misbehaving and getting into trouble. The breakup also affected my relationship with him – and it left me with a lot of money worries.  I was at my wits end, stuck at home with no job. I didn’t want to go out which made me feel helpless and worthless.

I was offered help from the Children and Families Team at Urban Outreach. At the start I was quite nervous about sharing my difficulties and concerns. I felt I was partly to blame for everything. But the worker from Urban Outreach didn’t judge me. She listened to me and gave me a lot of good advice and encouragement at such a low point in my life.

My support worker spent time with Lewis and when I couldn’t get through to him, she really helped him with his struggles. She also helped me with Lewis’s school and in exploring options for when he was to leave as this is his final year.  With my workers support, Lewis has now secured a traineeship at Myerscough College and with a grounds maintenance contractor. He starts in August and seems much more settled now.

As for myself, my worker helped me put together a budgeting plan so I wouldn’t get myself into more debt. She helped me sort out my benefits and supported me in attending appointments at the job centre. I was still struggling with my finances, but my worker was patient until I got on top of everything. 

I have started to feel more positive about the future and she has also helped me enrol in courses at college. Whilst I continue to look for work, she helped me get a small volunteering role which is getting me out of the house and making new friends. Things are looking up and I’m so grateful for the help and support I’ve received from Urban Outreach”.