Support helped Liam turn his life around

The project, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, runs IT and life skills training programmes to improve the education, job opportunities and self-esteem of young people living at the foyer.

And it has helped Liam (18) turn his life around - giving him the confidence to battle feelings of isolation and low self-esteem and offering the support he needed to improve his education, find a job and build a better future for himself.

Liam, originally from the village of Mullaghbawn near Newry, struggled with low confidence and self esteem as he grew up and never felt he fitted in at school, leaving at 16 without any qualifications to his name.

Without much to do and few prospects for his future, the same feelings of inadequacy that had plagued his teenage years continued to control his life.

“I wasn’t fond of school, it just wasn’t right for me, I was hanging around with people who were always getting into trouble and starting fights,” said Liam. “I figured I would just end up as someone who just got drunk and do nothing with the rest of my life.”

He continued: “I always struggled with low self confidence. I was called useless by other people and that really stuck with me after I left. I just didn’t feel I was worth much so I didn’t care about making anything of myself or finding a job.

“But I knew that if I stayed in Mullaghbawn then I would just end up drinking my life away and I could not let that happened. I didn’t want all this violence and anger in my life, so I knew I had to get away.

“My parents have always been there for me, and I told them I wanted to gain more independence and move way – they knew I needed to go so they offered me their support.”

With the support of his parents, Liam moved into Lurgan Foyer, a housing project based in Lurgan’s Mount Zion House giving young people a place to live independently and take part in training and education programmes so they can get jobs and ultimately move into their own homes.

At first Liam struggled to fit in, feeling out of place and finding it difficult to get involved with the programmes on offer - but all that changed when he was introduced to the newly formed Bytes project.

“When the Co-ordinator of the Bytes project, Amanda Stewart, came to the foyer to tell us about the Bytes project I was a bit apprehensive about it, but I quickly realised that this was something that would suit me,” he said.

“It all about developing our IT skills, supporting us to deal with the issues affecting our lives and building our confidence so we can make something of ourselves - and I’ve just loved being involved with it.

“I’ve got so much more confidence now and I’ve made loads of friends and feel like I really fit in here – I’m can look forward and plan my future now because I know I am worth something and I have qualifications behind me.”

Project coordinator Amanda Stewart explained that Liam has come a long way thanks to the support of the project.

“When I first started working with Liam he was quite quiet and withdrawn, however he was keen to get involved in different projects Bytes have to offer,” she said.

She continued: “As time passed his confidence grew and he became more keen to contribute to group work and get involved.

“To date Liam has gained a range of qualifications in IT and from the Open College Network, and he took part in a DVD project called ‘Too Much Too Young,’ to raise awareness about the serious issues of drug and alcohol abuse for which he is set to get a Youth Achievement Award.

“And he has gained a work placement at Gino’s clothes shop in Craigavon where he hopes to gain full-time employment in the future – he’s just a great young lad.”

Things are really looking up for Liam – but he knows he owes so much to the support of the Foyer and the Bytes project.

“Since I came to the Foyer I’ve been made to feel so welcome by everyone here,” he said. “I came here feeling worthless, with no qualifications, not caring what happened to me.

“But I realised that there were people here who cared and wanted to help me make something of myself. And the Bytes project has shown me that I can achieve my goals and I can build a future for myself and be proud of my achievements.

“I’m still going along to Bytes every week and I’m taking part in a Cultural Identity Photography Project where he will be putting together an exhibition to show case photographs I have taken to show people who I am.

“And I just love getting up and going to my work placement at Gino’s every day. It’s great fun and I really enjoy getting stuck in and working hard.

“I want to show other young people there’s no need for violence in their lives. Education is important and you don’t have to pretend you don’t care about your life just to fit in. Remember you only have one life, so you need to make the most of it.”