11/09/2021
"I was a troubled teenager, my mum and dad were he**in addicts and we lived a chaotic life. With little food on the table, and clothes from the charity shop, I felt lonely in ways no child should feel. Tuesday and Thursday nights were not so bad though - these were youth club nights.
Run out of an old community centre, the club was a place I felt safe. Mel and Julie were the youth leaders. Julie I couldn't take to, she was too teachery, but Mel - he was a different type. I knew from the start he understood me. He had kind eyes, and he smoked (like I did) but more than that he listened. He used to ask me to help him make the tea and he always had some food in the little kitchen for me that were “left overs” from home. He gave me space to talk, to tell him how scared I was.
He was always there to perk me up, to tell me he thought I was great - he never seemed to judge me either, or my parents - which was important, even though they were bad parents I still loved them and felt protective of them. Mel seemed to understand this. Looking back now it must have been hard for him to hear my story. But he was never too busy, he seemed so calm. He really was the only one adult I had to talk to."
- Katriona, talking about how youth work changed her life
We’re calling on our Government to support young people in Budget22, with an investment of €10 million in youth services. Will you join this call and add your name to our petition? https://bit.ly/YouthBudget22
