Hannah

When Hannah first came to Go! Youth Trust, she was struggling with anxiety, social isolation and a growing sense that she didn’t fit in. Referred by her parent, she was looking for someone to talk to and somewhere she could feel accepted.
At the time, Hannah felt completely alone.

“I felt like an outsider a lot. I felt like no one could possibly understand what I was going through. It felt like there was no future for me.”

Through one-to-one mentoring, Hannah found something she had been missing—a trusted adult outside of school and family who would listen without judgement and help her navigate life’s challenges. Around the same time, she received an autism diagnosis, helping her better understand herself and her experiences.

Rather than seeing her diagnosis as a barrier, Go! Youth Trust helped Hannah recognise her strengths and build the confidence to embrace new opportunities.

Over the following years, Hannah became involved in a range of programmes, regularly attending groups where she met other young people who shared similar experiences. For the first time, she realised she wasn’t alone.

“My self-confidence has increased incredibly. Years ago, I would never have imagined myself leaving my house, but now I’m coming to groups every week because I love being here.”

As her confidence grew, so did her willingness to step outside her comfort zone. Activities like kayaking and paddleboarding—things she once believed she could never do—became defining moments in her journey.

“For years I thought, ‘I can’t do this.’ Then one person said, ‘Just try.’ I did… and I could do it.”

Most recently, Hannah completed the King’s Trust Team Programme, a 12-week employability course designed to help young people develop workplace skills, gain experience and prepare for employment. Alongside practical skills such as teamwork and communication, the programme connected Hannah with other young people facing similar challenges and gave her renewed confidence about her future.

Today, Hannah’s outlook on life is completely different.

“The best thing you can do is try in life. If you never try, you never know. If I had never tried coming to Go! Youth Trust, I would be in a much darker place than I am right now. My life has completely changed.”

Hannah’s story demonstrates the power of long-term, relationship-based youth work. What began as support for anxiety and isolation became a journey of belonging, personal growth and hope. By providing trusted relationships, safe spaces and opportunities to succeed, Go! Youth Trust helped Hannah discover not only what she was capable of, but also that she has a place where she belongs.