“I suffer with anxiety and depression, which is why I am with the Rendezvous…..”
This is Ashley’s story in her own words (we’ve changed her name and the image is not her!). She has made the most of everything we’ve offered her – learning, 1:1 support and help with applications. She now volunteers at the learning sessions and we are extremely proud of the way she has grown.
“I couldn’t cope at school due to a hard home-life and failed immensely with handing in homework, because I couldn’t do it at home.
The Rendezvous took me in when my Focus Five helper* introduced me to them, she had many successful stories from the times she took other people.
I was homeschooled after Year 7 until Year 11 and home schooling was reading textbooks and answering questions with little to no help. I took GCSEs at school but due to doing them in Covid it turned out the GCSE results though out Covid were based on marks on mocks and homework. I failed with handing in homework as I was really struggling with my mental health, which lot of teachers called me out on.
I was ecstatic to start English, as it is my number one subject, but not so Maths as I hate it – although my tutor Richard is great and teaching it with his slightly condescending, ‘yes, but you could have done it this way’ or his humour written all over his face when I get an answer completely wrong.
When I finished my English exams, Bekah and Faye approached me to start volunteering, to build confidence. They even gave me a mock job interview but I doubt all interviews have Julie’s adorable dog in them. I am supported with my mental health by the whole Rendezvous family, but especially my support worker Liz.
I want to go to Bristol City College once I finish my Maths, hopefully Level 2 this term, to do an access Science course then onto the Forensic Sciences. Rendezvous even gave me training in safeguarding via an online course and the confidence to get two online certificates, Forensic Psychology training with a Distinction and Criminology training with a Merit.”
Image (c) Brooke Cagle, Unsplash
* A Somerset County Council initiative