Youth Leads helped me realise my dreams
Growing up, I was really shy and reserved. I kept to myself, had a small circle of friends, and never really felt like I fit in. I liked listening to others more than talking, and I just assumed opportunities were for other people, not someone like me.
At school, I was always with the quiet set. I loved doing dance GCSE, but I was always overlooked for the main roles. That really affected my self-esteem. I remember thinking, “Am I just not good enough?
Home life struggles
I was also dealing with stuff at home. It was just me and my mum. My dad, who’s Italian, left when I was around 10 and moved to Italy. At first, we kept in touch, but over time that stopped. When I was younger, I’d get upset about it a lot. Now I’m older, I’ve kind of accepted it, but I still hope one day I might reconnect with him.
Then COVID hit and I felt really isolated. My mum’s a key worker, so I had to go into school, but apart from one friend, I shared a classroom with Year 7s and 8s. Everything was fenced off and we had to wear masks all day – it felt more like a prison than a school. We missed out on so much – an end of school celebration, signing shirts, even just saying goodbye to teachers. I also really missed not being able to see friends outside of school – it was a really worrying time.
A turning point
College was a turning point for me. I got close to a staff member, Jane, who really looked out for me. She was the one who introduced me to Youth Leads. At first, I had no idea what it was. I only went because Jane encouraged me. She said, “Just try it, and if you don’t like it, that’s okay.” I honestly thought I’d just go once and leave.
But I didn’t leave.
That first session changed everything. I walked into a room full of people from all different backgrounds, and I was surprised at how open everyone was. People just started sharing their lives, and it felt like such a safe, warm space. They put on food for us and everyone started chatting. For the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable and I started to open up.
“That first session changed everything. I walked into a room full of people from all different backgrounds…it felt like such a safe, warm space.”
Making a difference
One of the best parts of the programme was the social action project. We wanted to do something for homeless people in our area. We did loads of research, found out about the gaps in services and created info packs to help people access support. It felt powerful to be part of something that helped others.
Then we worked on a youth magazine, and I loved everything about it. I chose to write about health and fitness because it’s something really personal to me. When I was younger, I wasn’t happy with the way I looked. I wanted to feel stronger, inside and out. I felt anxious and scared going to the gym, so I’d just stay away. Then a friend invited me to train with her. At first, I had no clue what I was doing, but she showed me how things worked, so eventually I felt confident to go on my own.
Realising my dreams
That experience helped me realise how physical fitness can really boost your mental wellbeing. I wrote all about it in the magazine, planned a fashion shoot, and got my friends involved – the story ended up on the front cover. I finally felt in control, like I had something important to say.
As part of the Youth Leads programme we looked at a whole range of employability skills – writing CVs, practising interviews, improving presentation skills. It was so helpful. Then we had the amazing opportunity to go to Factory International and did workshops on branding and social media. That’s when I realised I wanted to go into marketing. Thanks to Youth Leads, that moment honestly lit a spark in me.
Now, I’m in my first year studying Fashion Marketing at Manchester Uni and really enjoying it. I’m not scared of rejection anymore. I’ve learned to see it as a way to grow instead of a reason to give up. Youth Leads taught me that – it wasn’t just the sessions, it was the little things, like when the leaders would say, “Well done today,” it made me feel like someone believed in me.
“I'm not scared of rejection anymore. I’ve learned to see it as a way to grow instead of a reason to give up.”
Planning for the future
I’ve stayed involved with Youth Leads as part of the alumni group and hope to inspire others to give it a go. I helped make a video to promote the programme and talk about my experience. I know how important it is. In Bolton, there weren’t high expectations for people like me. It felt like a dead end, but Youth Leads helped me believe in myself and here I am at Uni doing something that I love.
I’m excited about what the future holds. I’d love to work in marketing for brands and with the experience I am gaining experience working part-time at JD alongside my Uni work, I’m ambitious for my career. Thanks to Youth Leads, I see no limits.
Nicole was a participant on the Youth Leads Care-Experienced Leadership Programme.
