Lewis came to YMCA Training Romford in November
2008. He had just moved into the area from Northampton and
was to be fostered by a family locally. Lewis found the whole
experience overwhelming - his concerns ranged from travelling on
public transport, to mixing with other people.
YMCA Training worked closely with Lewis to support him through
his issues and engineered partnerships with other learners until he
was able to forge friendships. Through fun activities and team
building events, debates and teaching sessions, Lewis gradually
began to integrate with other learners and built up a social
network with learners outside of the centre. By the summer of 2009
he was supporting new learners as they joined the programme and
helping them to settle socially into e2e.
Lewis completed his e2e programme in September 2009 and has now
progressed on to a construction course - Lewis often visits YMCA
Training to update staff and learners on his progress, he said:
"With the support of people around me I learnt to move forward
instead of looking back. At first it was hard but I finally got
there and my life has changed for the better."