Kerry, 17

Nigel Haynes Award Winner Kerry Budd

I have been coming to Fairbridge for about a year now and I feel they have helped me change my life around. Before I came to Fairbridge I was getting into lots of trouble at school and causing pain to my family and friends because of my actions. I was on the verge of getting kicked out of school. I didn’t care because I had a really bad attitude problem, it was like ‘what I say goes’ and if it didn’t go that way I would kick off and cause more trouble.

I was referred to counseling to try and see if I would talk to someone about why I was acting the way I was and that helped a little but then when something went wrong I would go back to my old ways. From there I was referred to Fairbridge. When I started Fairbridge my attitude stunk, I would look at everyone as if I had just wiped them off the bottom of my shoe. I spoke to everyone really rude as if I was the most important person going. When I started to get to know the staff and the young people more and started trusting them, I could see a change in myself. I was starting to communicate with people appropriately and became friendlier to talk to, I also conquered some of my fears like heights. I got involved with everything I could because thanks to staff and talking one to one with my Outreach and Development Worker I knew I had to change the way I was going and things could only get better if I tried. I got involved with rock scrambling, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing and a really important course for me, it was called ‘Bridging the Past’.

I was doing so well at Fairbridge and was using the things I learnt in my personal life also. But then I had a major downfall, I was living in foster care at this time and had just had news that my grandad passed away. This made my life flip upside down I began snapping at people again and not wanting to talk to anyone just to get on with things. Then when I had a one to one with my Outreach Worker I realised that it was not anyone’s fault at Fairbridge that my grandad passed away and I started to pull myself together again.

While on the ‘Bridging the Past’ course everyone was telling me how much they were proud of me and how much I had come on from the girl they first met. I felt so proud of myself and couldn’t wait for my next challenge.

On 3^rd July ‘08 I had the opportunity of a life time, something that I would never thought would happen to me, I got asked to go onto Spirit. I was so happy I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. I had worked so hard at Fairbridge and at home I just couldn’t say no. I learnt so much while I was there; how to hoist sails and communicate with people and deal with problems in such a small space. It was an experience of a life time and something that I will never forget. I met so many lovely people while I was there and I would definitely encourage anyone who is asked to go to grab the opportunity with both hands.

Thanks to Fairbridge I have had so many opportunities to do things that I never imagined doing and they have helped me to turn my life around as I now have a goal in life, I couldn’t be more grateful.

Laura, 14

I was referred to Fairbridge by my school just over a year ago now. Before I started, I was self harming everyday, getting into trouble at school and walking out of lessons. Things were bad at home and that affected my work as well and I was on the verge of being excluded. I was sent to a councillor, but nothing seemed to work. I had no confidence and I didn’t believe in myself at all, that’s where Fairbridge came in. I was nervous at first, but when I got there and realised how supportive and down to earth the people were, I got more comfortable and went back to do more courses.

So far I’ve done my Access, an art course, and bleeping babies. I absolutely loved it – it gave me a chance to realise what it would be like being a teenage mother. The course had a residential; I hadn’t been away from home in 6 years so it was a big achievement for me. The staff were really supportive and encouraged me all the way; I couldn’t have done it without them.

Fairbridge really helped me change my life around for the better. They gave me the confidence to get my life back on track and saw a future in me, I can't thank them enough.