Anthony’s story
Suspended, expelled and excluded. That was at junior & secondary schools. Bullied, misunderstood and not wanted at home. Looking for fights, getting into gangs, selling and taking drugs was a daily routine.
It seemed like the only thing I was good at; the only thing that gave me credibility. At least with my mates I was wanted.
Not the best start I think you’d agree. This led to me being kicked out of my mum’s home and sofa surfing at mates until that went wrong too – it always does when you’re living on someone else’s turf.
I moved to what seemed like better times moving in with my brother first in Mundesley and then to Yarmouth after. But, my brother had a temper and was forgetful… so forgot to pay the rent and assaulted the agent when they came to our door asking for it.
After five years of wandering from one disastrous home to another (which included more friends’ sofas), I tried Empanda in Cromer. My thoughts were it’s better than living on the streets… but only just! However, this has not been the case.
Here I’ve been able to have a foundation from which I can build. In the past I’ve lived with friends and family and relied on them to keep a roof over my head. Now I can take the lead on my own surroundings and it’s more stable and more dependent on me rather than others. I didn’t think a hostel would give me the control over my own destiny but it has.
Don’t get me wrong – there are lots of issues that I need help with, but here I am dealing with them because I’ve got a base to go from; and because I’ve got people here who can point me in the right direction for help. When you haven’t got a home of your own, it’s always there hovering over you, a constant insecurity and worry; a constant reminder that your problem is somebody else’s too. It’s a weight that’s hard to put across in words, but in the past I found myself over-compensating for this, perhaps I don’t have to anymore.
Anthony – August 2017
(Update: Anthony has now successfully moved into his own flat from our Young People’s Services Project in Cromer)
