Az, 22

Four years ago I had low self esteem, no self confidence, didn’t have a social life and I spent my days inside doing nothing at all. I had just left school and I was finding it hard adapting to an adult environment at college.

Then my friend suggested that maybe I should go down to Fairbridge and check it out.

I went on the Access in north Wales, and we spent three days rock climbing and gorge walking. It was amazing. It was great being a part of a group as I found out that everyone had a story to tell.

After that I used to come to Fairbridge every day when I didn’t have something else on. I really liked the atmosphere.

I got loads out of it. I started learning guitar, bass, drums and singing, and the staff also helped me to get onto a sound engineering course at a local college.

One of the best things about Fairbridge is that it is all free. I was paying £60 per month for guitar lessons before and I wasn’t getting any better. But here it doesn’t cost anything and I’ve learned loads.

The main reason that I like it here is that I get on so well with the staff. They’re so friendly. Actually I like them so much and I’m here so often helping out the younger kids that sometimes I feel like I work here!

When I started the course I wrote on a form that I was very private and liked being alone, but since then staff here have really let me out of myself and I feel that I have blossomed.

They help to work out what’s at fault and help you focus on that by pushing you out of your comfort zone. They helped me realise that there as a whole world that I was missing out on – I found out that I could get out there and meet people.

At the moment I am looking into being a radio DJ and am trying to get work experience with local stations. I wouldn’t have been able to do that before I came here. I think I would have got out of the state that I was in, but that it would have taken me a lot longer if it wasn’t for Fairbridge.

Pete, 22

When I was younger I got into trouble with a gang and got attacked by a group of lads. I didn’t leave the house for a year. I used to just sit around playing on my computer the whole time and I started self-harming. Back then I was 15 and I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. I didn’t like being in school, I got distracted easily and I didn’t like just sitting at a desk. I also didn’t have any confidence so I got really scared before lessons.

I heard about Fairbridge from a friend so I came down and signed up for an access course. I went on Access and it was great because I met a lot of different people. They took us out on all these activities and gave us all this free stuff, and I thought what’s the catch? But there wasn’t one. When I came to the centre it was really relaxed, and there was always someone around so I started taking to people I didn’t know and opening up.

I started coming here every day and it helped me to get over things. It got me into a different environment where I could just start talking to random people and that gave me confidence.

When I finished school, Fairbridge helped me get into a music B-tec at Mid Kent College and I got a part time job in a clothing store. While I was doing that I started working at Fairbridge as a volunteer. I was helping the development tutors on Access - running activities and team building exercises. Then I got a full time paid job as a development coordinator.

I’m really happy working here. I always really looked up to the staff and I wanted to be like them one day, and now I am.

I think I’m good at the job because I know how it feels to be in that position. After Fairbridge I want to carry on working on doing youth work. I watch people make a difference every day and I feel appreciated. I can see that I can make a change to people’s life. I love working for people. I get a buzz out of it. I love it.