I moved around a lot when I was younger, every couple of years we would move house. It meant that just as I was getting settled and making friends I would move again. It was worse because I found it hard to talk to people and am really shy – in fact I just wanted to curl up in a ball when I met new people.

I first came to Fairbridge in early 2009, I was referred through my connexions worker who said they could help me with my confidence. I went on the residential and I had a good time – doing loads of stuff like climbing and mountain biking but I would sometimes not turn up and then I eventually I stopped going. Because of my confidence I stopped going out and wasn’t doing anything but I knew I had to do something to get out of the rut I was in and so I gave Fairbridge another go. It was easier to do as I knew the staff and I knew what to expect this time around.

I have done loads since I have come back – I have gone climbing and learnt to cook – I have even been involved in the sports project and have got a sports leaders certificate and I have even helped out at the RBS sports day and other events with businesses where I even ran some team building exercises. All the activities show me that I can do things that I want to and have helped my confidence.

The staff really supported me – they let you talk about what’s going on in your head and that helps you look at what you really want to do with your life especially in the one to one sessions – but you know that no one will gossip about what you say or judge you.

The best thing has been going on Spirit – when I first got told about it I thought it would be ok but I didn’t realise what a difference it would make to my life. I had to go on board and meet new people – and because you are all in a small space all the time and you were working together to sail the ship I had to talk to people and I had to get involved – I couldn’t just sit on the sidelines like I normally do. I didn’t want it to end.