Sydney’s Story

 

Ahead of Father’s Day, Sydney has chosen to share their story about their dad and experience with Nelson’s Journey.

“In 2017, at the age of ten, my father died suddenly; my grandfather died the day after. This completely changed me, and I found myself trapped in my own grief. I struggled for a long time to go to school and keep up with the friends I had. This was a profound setback for me, and I deeply socially regressed and found the prospect of ever returning to my life incredibly daunting. I continued this way until I got support from Nelson’s Journey through the advice of a family friend.

 

Nelson’s Journey provided me with the support that I needed at the time to get back on track. I was given one-on-one sessions with a support worker both in school and at Nelson’s Journey’s offices; these helped me especially to work through and process my feelings around my bereavement. Nelson’s Journey also helped me regain my confidence to return to school, they also spoke to my school to provide an easy route for me to come back. I remember being told by a support worker at the time that “It won’t always be like this. You won’t believe it now but it won’t”, this deeply helped me at the time to be able to continue with my life again.

 

Nelson’s Journey also gave me the opportunity to attend a two-day residential, and this really helped me to regain my confidence. It was very beneficial for me to be around people who had also experienced grief and were around my age. The emotional acceptance and catharsis I felt in combination with the fun activity provided created an experience that proved transformative to me. The care provided by everyone involved created an environment where I was truly able to open up and heal.

 

After having received support from Nelson’s Journey I very quickly decided I wanted to give back to them in my own way. I became a young volunteer in 2019 when I turned 13 and quickly began attending all the opportunities I could. It was great to be able to steer the projects of the charity in the direction I as a service user felt fit. It always felt like I and the other young volunteers were trusted to create the best support for others like us. It was an incredible responsibility that we were always guided on by great adult volunteers. This ran in tandem with the opportunities we got to volunteer at events which was also rewarding in its own way.

 

During my time as a young volunteer I was given plenty of opportunities to develop skills that have helped me deeply in my life. I was able to speak in front of crowds that originally may have made me nervous, but with the help and coaching of Nelson’s Journey, I was able to gain confidence. I remember speaking at the first Christmas quiz I volunteered at in front of hundreds of people and feeling nervous until I was reassured by some of my fellow volunteers that it would go great. Through this and several other opportunities, I was able to develop my skills and as a person, without the opportunities given to me by Nelson’s Journey, I would be a much different person.

 

I stopped young volunteering when I turned 18 last year but have carried on as a volunteer. This gives me the ability to support the charity albeit in a different capacity. It is wonderful to be able to facilitate meetings that I once would have attended as a young volunteer. To be able to work with the next generation of young volunteers is a privilege and I am grateful to be able to help the charity in this way.

 

With Nelson’s Journey’s support, I was able to return to school and my social life. I am now off to university in September, studying English at Cambridge University.

 

Without the support of Nelson’s Journey, I would not have gotten to where I am today, and I am eternally grateful to them for that support.

 

Thank you so much to Sydney for sharing your story!