Freya’s Story: “At the Youth Zone I can be myself”

Freya’s story

“My name is Freya* I am 11 and I have been attending Carlisle Youth Zone for two years. I love reading, David Walliams is my favourite author. When I first started attending the Youth Zone, I felt a bit uncomfortable and nervous. Now when I think about going to the Youth Zone it makes me happy and I look forward to going.

The reason I started attending was because I wanted to have a place where I could go that was for me. I have five siblings and home is always busy. I wanted a place where I could have some time to myself and some freedom as my mum worries about me and my siblings a lot. I like going to the Youth Zone because I get to have some time that is just for me without my siblings being around.

I enjoy being in the music room, banging on the drums is fun and I get to make noise and do not have to worry about being quiet. When I am at home, I must be careful of how much noise I make because some of my siblings are sensitive to noise.

I want to get stronger, and the gym allows me to work on my fitness, I want to be able to move my bed by myself so that I can change my bedroom around that I share with my sister so we can both have some privacy.

I get to cook and bake, and I get to eat what I make after the sessions which is the best. The sessions have helped me to learn new skills and try new recipes that I have never eaten before. Also, the sessions have helped me to make new friends and it has been a good way of getting to know them and the staff running the activities.

Before I started the Youth Zone, I only had a couple of friends and found it very difficult to make friends. I had experienced being bullied and losing friends, The staff at the Youth Zone supported me and helped which made me feel happy as I knew I had someone I could talk to. I now feel more comfortable making friends and enjoy spending time with them at the Youth Zone. I cannot wait to see them more and to spend time with them next year when I go to secondary school.

The staff at the Youth Zone make it fun. They have a laugh and a joke with you and their sense of humour makes it enjoyable.

The Youth Zone is a place I can go and get to do things that I do not always have a chance to do, like ice skating. At the Youth Zone I can be myself, it is a place where I enjoy going and has helped me to be happy within myself. It offers support for me and my family. My mum still worries and is overprotective, but I know she feels the Youth Zone has helped me and she is thankful that it is a part of my life.”

*name has been changed