My Life: Owen Lethbridge, 17, Torbay
Owen Lethbridge
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
When I first took part in sports sessions with So-Fly in Torbay I was scared to talk to people and wasn't able to socialise because I was too nervous. But, the sessions gave me confidence and helped me talk to new people and make more friends.
My social anxiety really changed when I started volunteering with So-Fly after six months of taking part in the sessions. I volunteered because I wanted to help train young people and it was a great feeling.
After six months volunteering, the So-Fly team had obviously seen the positive change in me because they then offered me a job and I've been working for them since October on Sanctuary Housing's sports programme called Love Sport.
Working on the programme has changed me as a person and let me do things I couldn't before. I have gained confidence and the ability to engage with and speak to the young people about things that concern them. I feel that by working with young people I can help make them happy, even if it is playing football for an hour or just talking to them about their lives.
Working on the Love Sport sessions lets me do two things I love most, which is helping people and playing sport. These were the main reasons I joined in the first place.
My dream in the future is to open my own restaurant, but until then I am enjoying being able to make a difference to other people's lives.
