our learners – william’s story
I live in Manchester with my two budgies and Gypsy the stray cat who I’ve been trying to get rid of for the past year!
I first heard about Back on Track through my Housing Support Worker. I was feeling isolated at home and not really mixing with other people. When I first came along to the centre I started on an art course and at first I found it really hard to talk to people, but everyone was so friendly that I soon felt at home.
Since coming to MERC, I have learned about art, photography, and computers and have improved my literacy skills. I get just the best support from the staff and I like making friends with other people in the centre. I’m starting to write some science fiction. Writing about science fiction is what I like best as writing about real life is too difficult. Attending the courses has helped me deal with things that have happened to me in the past.
I’ve got a mentor at Back on Track who I told about my passion for anything to do with cars and then she told me all about volunteering at First Step Trust. At first, I was a bit nervous but my mentor came with me until I felt better. In the first few weeks, I was a bit bored because they only gave me cleaning jobs to do so I told my mentor how I felt. She phoned First Step Trust for me to explain what I wanted to do and now I am getting covered in oil working on mucky engines!