Earlier this year, Lucy experienced the loss of a grandparent, a moment that deeply affected her wellbeing. At first, she found it difficult to talk about her grief. With steady support from her Youth Options youth support worker, Lucy has gradually begun opening up, showing a real shift in her emotional resilience. 

With encouragement from her mum, Lucy asked for extra mental health and wellbeing resources. We provided a tailored set of materials, and both Lucy and her mum have been engaging with them together at home, creating space for support and healing. 

Lucy attends an alternative education provision but felt it wasn’t meeting her academic needs. To help her find a more meaningful learning path, she began working towards her LASER Awards through Youth Options. This has not only supported her personal development but also strengthened her CV and future college applications. One of Lucy’s goals has been to secure part-time employment. To help her prepare, she has been developing a CV and career portfolio and gaining valuable work experience through Youth Options programmes. These steps have helped her build skills and confidence in taking her next steps. 

Since engaging with Youth Options, Lucy has made significant progress: addressing her grief, improving her mental health, reconnecting with learning through accredited qualifications, and preparing for future employment. Her dedication and growth have led her to become one of our Youth Ambassadors, where she will help shape how Youth Options engages and supports other young people. 

*Please note, all names and images used have been changed to protect the identity of the young person.