Johnny's Story

Johnny, 21 years old

I left home when I was 16 due to conflict at home with my step-dad. Basically he came along when I was three and we never got on at all and the older I got the more arguments we had. I left home to live with his sister until I joined a fun fair. This was strange but it led me to Bangor where I decided to stay when the fair had left.

This was the first time I had ever heard of the Simon Community.  During my first stay with Simon I got into severe trouble with the police and as a result had to move out.  I was always getting into trouble and didn't actually care who this affected. I had done it my whole life.

Two years later after my relationship broke down I called the Simon again to see if I could get back as I was homeless again. It was at this point I actually took in what was being offered. One of the staff there helped me get to where I am now without actually realising she had done it. I think it was the fact that she showed me that not everyone is prejudice and she really valued what I said or done.

She put me in contact with the Prince's Trust, who were offering a youth work training course which I completed and passed thanks to her and the support of all the staff in Bangor Simon. I have done other courses outside of Simon that I never thought I was capable of doing, which was all down to someone believing in me.

Now I am trained in 1^st Aid, Violence and Aggression, Suicide Intervention, Alcohol and Substance Misuse and am currently studying for my Level 3 in youth work.

I am now proud of myself and so is my family and its all down to the Simon showing me that people do care even those you don't expect to.  They have had a really big impact on my life and hopefully through what I have learned from living there will allow me to do the same for other people.