Just over a year ago, Nick was referred to YMCA by North Tyneside Council’s Housing Advice Team.

“I had few skills at all when I arrived at YMCA and little confidence.”

Nick needed practical support to give him more confidence and teach him how to live independently. He worked with our housing support staff who helped him to budget and manage his money, how to prepare and cook healthy meals, how to keep his flat clean and tidy and ways to make and build healthy relationships.

Nick gaining control of his finances was a huge boost in confidence for him. It meant he was then able to focus on identifying his interests and planning some goals with the support of our housing team.  

“YMCA has given me new skills like being able to budget my money and manage a healthy lifestyle “

One of Nick’s key goals was to improve his physical health and fitness. He became actively involved in health based sessions and events with YMCA. Health and fitness were fast becoming a huge passion for him. Nick took full advantage of our state of the art gym facilities by becoming a member, for free, as part of the services available to all of our residents.

“My short term goal was to get fit, and learn. Being a member of YMCA gym always helped me to feel better when I was stressed.”

During his time here Nick has taken part in as many of our trips and activities as possible. He has played a key role in groups, forums and discussion events on subjects like substance misuse and homelessness.

He was chosen to represent YMCA as part of an international Erasmus Exchange to Greece and Slovakia. Nick spent time with young people from both countries talking about the impact of homelessness and learning about the experience of refugees and asylum seekers.

The progress Nick has made during his time with YMCA has been nothing short of fantastic. He has embraced all of the opportunities that he has been afforded, and his hard work has really paid off. He wanted to find a job that would combine his passion for health and fitness while keeping his mind active and enabling him to support himself financially.

More recently, after participating in a number of employability training events and working with a volunteer teacher, we are delighted to say that Nick has been successful in his application for a sports trainee-ship at The Parks Leisure Centre. This guarantees him an interview for a Modern Apprenticeship at the end of the course.

He said,

“I am helping people smile and enjoy themselves, people who otherwise might be sitting on their own in the house – that makes me feel great.  I enjoy encouraging my friends to go the gym and going places with them.”

Nick has made the final transition into one of our ‘Penthouse’ flats, which are only open to residents who are consistently meeting expectations and making excellent progress under our strength and development framework. This is the final step before independent living and we are so thrilled for Nick and all he has achieved.

He said,

“I have all the support from YMCA housing and GYM staff and I’m finally heading in the right direction. I now have a much healthier relationship with my family. My long term goal is to be a personal trainer and a bodybuilder and have my own house with my Girlfriend. YMCA is very good and without it I don’t know where I would be or what path I would have taken. “