David's Story

After the relationship with his wife broke down irretrievably, David became a resident at YMCA Central Herts on Peartree Lane in Welwyn Garden City.

His options had included moving to another area to live with friends. However he wanted to remain close to his three children who live locally, as he realised that being a father and playing an active role in their lives was important to him.

The YMCA was able to provide David with accommodation where he could still see his children for three days a week and where they were able to stay with him every weekend.

Whilst staying at Peartree Lane he took every opportunity that presented itself and completed the YMCA Personal Development Programme (PDP). ‘Working with people through PDP was a good thing and helped my active nature. It helped me with team work and tolerance as well as developing organisational skills'.

The programme was the catalyst for him to volunteer in the YMCA computer training room at Peartree Lane and the experience this gave him made him realise that he enjoyed teaching. He started studying with the Open University for a BSc in Mathematics and the YMCA also paid for a 10 week ‘Preparing to Teach' course. 

‘I wasn't sure if teaching was for me but my life was pointing that way. The Preparing to Teach course that the YMCA paid for enabled me to get a job with a local college. I'm now teaching GCSE mathematics at a local college to 14-19 year olds'.

Last year David moved out of the YMCA into a two bedroom flat with support from the Housing Team. David said, ‘I still stay in touch with the YMCA there are a lot of guys there that I have a good relationship with. I still go training at the local gym and see some of them at the college. My time at the YMCA was a positive experience which helped prove myself to my children and my family.

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