Leona Orr explains how a charity has given her the opportunity to help others in similar circumstances Leona Orr is using her experiences of being in care to help other young people Breaking down barriers for care-experienced young people so they reach their goals is part of everyday work at Include Youth. The National Lottery-funded organisation is supporting young people like Leona Orr from Derry/Londonderry, to help them stay in education or land their dream job. For 21-year-old Leona, not only has Include Youth supported her, but it is also giving her the opportunity to use her experiences to make a difference in other young people’s lives, through a recent National Lottery Funded project.
“Everyone’s experience of being in care is different, but still very relatable to each other,” explains Leona. “I’ve been involved with Social Services since the day I was born, and I officially went into a care placement with my grandparents in Co Tyrone when I was nine. “I felt very privileged that I was able to live with my grandparents because that isn’t an option for a lot of young people in my situation, but I still pretended to my friends that it was my choice and I never told anyone about being involved with Social Services.
” Leona is now opening up about her experiences to help break the stigma for young people in care. She got involved with Include Youth in Derry/Londonderry two years ago as a youth mentor — referred to as an Expert by Experience (EBE). She received training, a salary and a stepping-stone to further employment.
The EBE role is part of a three-year project at Include Youth which is using a £500,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. Leona says: “The great thing about the EBE post is that it fills a communication gap between youth workers and young people. “Sometimes it can be easier for a young person to come and talk to a mentor like me and then I can talk to the youth worker, rather than the young person struggling to explain their feelings.
” Leona telling her story to social work students at Ulster University Magee Campus Leona forms part of a team of peer mentors who support and advocate for other young people and also get the opportunity to develop their own confidence and skills to help tackle the barriers they face to stay in employment. Include Youth has received over £3 million of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund over the years, and through a range of projects they’ve helped young people across Northern Ireland to achieve qualifications, gain employment, and be empowered to become young leaders - just like Leona. “Supporting other young people makes me feel like I’m actually doing something to make a difference.
“My experience of the care system gives me insight on how I would want someone to talk to me or how I would want someone to speak on my behalf, just like a lot of the young people I’m supporting. “There is a lot of distrust out there for adults, but at Include Youth we create a safe space for young people to share their stories with no shame or embarrassment. “One of my stand-out moments was speaking at Ulster University to social work students from Magee about my experiences.
I received brilliant feedback and I’ve had the Northern HSCT ask me to do a talk for their social workers, which is an amazing feeling.” Leona finished her EBE role last year and was successful at getting into University and starting a part-time job at Include Youth. She now helps to shape policies and supports young people into employment.
Leona mentoring Sophie Hamilton and Eamonn McCarron at Include Youth in Derry/Londonderry Leona remarks, “I think young people in care have to grow up a lot quicker and have more worries than other young people, which automatically puts them at a massive disadvantage. “But I’ve jumped at opportunities and I’m following my dream to go to university — my Grandparents are really proud of me. “Being able to share my story and support other young people to reach their goals is really rewarding.
The team at Include Youth are phenomenal — they’ve made me see a bright future for myself.” This year marks the 30th anniversary of The National Lottery and for Diane Hill, CEO of Include Youth, the impact the funding has had for the organisation has been invaluable. Diane says: “We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community fund who have invested in Include Youth for over 15 years to provide support for care experienced young people.
“Leona’s dedication and resilience is an inspiration to many other young people and even more so that she wants to use her voice to help others. “She is one of many young people who have greatly benefitted from funding we have received over the years, with many young people increasing in confidence, gaining qualifications and successfully moving into employment. “What a fantastic legacy The National Lottery has left over the past 30 years not just for Include Youth, but for many others.
” Since The National Lottery began in 1994, billions of pounds have made life-changing projects like this possible. Each week over £30 million is raised for good causes like this, thanks to people who play The National Lottery games. Find out more about funding at tnlcommunityfund.
org.uk.
