Sarah's Story
"I can be an example for my young brothers and sisters and my nieces and nephews. I can show them that you can still achieve good things even though you live in a council house in Bootle!"
I first met YKids when I was in year 8 in school. Two YKids’
workers came into my class and did a project called the story project. We
talked about what we wanted in our future and the kind of stories we wanted to
tell with our lives.
Two years later I was doing my Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award
and needed a volunteer community placement. I remembered YKids and asked if I could
get involved. I’ve done loads of different groups and projects. The regular
groups for me were the bee-keeping group, Redi Extreme and Rise but I’ve also
volunteered with the families’ projects and the groups for younger people. My
favourite group that I volunteered with was the Christmas craft zone where we
made a yule log from scratch. I love cake so that was amazing!
I’ve made so many friends at YKids. I loved some of the
silly activities- especially the epic food challenge where we had to work in
groups to make an iconic Liverpool building out of food. We made the big wheel
and used jelly babies as people. Another group made the Radio City tower with a
baguette and a cake! In Rise, I won a challenge where I had to eat a pancake
without using my hands-I showed the lads that girls can win food challenges!
The thing that I most enjoyed was the bee-keeping group.
This is something that is so unique that I would never be able to do without YKids.
I used to be scared of bugs but now I stroke bees! We made lip balms which were
great and had a go at face creams but that didn’t work as well. Extracting the
honey was boss- the honey was the best thing I have ever tasted! Why do all my
good memories involve food?!
I’ve learnt loads in YKids. I’ve definitely learnt to work
in a team as this was something I never really used to enjoy doing. I used to
prefer to rely on myself and only be responsible for me because that way I couldn’t
be let down-but working in a team is what YKids is all about. I’m also more
confident in who I am and what I want in my future. Volunteering was a big deal
for me, I loved it! I liked having the responsibility and the fact that the
younger children looked up to me. It made me realise that I could be a role
model and this is something I try to be to the young members of my family.
I’m now at university in Derby studying a foundation course
in forensic science and criminology. I’m the first person in my family to go
away to university at age 18. I was terrified at first and didn’t know what to
expect. We’re not a rich family so budgeting was a struggle for me. Being on my
own was hard but I did it. I’m through the first term now and im really happy
and proud of myself. I miss my family but like the fact that I can be an
example for my young brothers and sisters and my nieces and nephews. I can show
them that you can still achieve good things even though you live in a council
house in Bootle. Ykids definitely taught me how to be a role model!
I loved my time at YKids and I’m definitely going to keep on popping in to say hello when im home from university!