Sara’s story...

On Saturday 18th August 2007, I joined the Fairway Project.

At that time, I was staying with my grandparents. I was unemployed and had no social life. My Social Worker got me a place on the project. I could not talk to my grandparents about my feelings and felt emotionally trapped.

In February 2008, my aunt and uncle, who stayed in Edinburgh, moved to Ayr and I started staying with them at weekends. Then gradually the weekends turned into long weekends and a few days during the week until I asked my aunt if I could stay with them on a permanent basis as I felt more secure and could express myself more and talk openly to my aunt.

Although I was still unemployed, I was given some responsibility by my aunt by being allowed to travel to the Job Centre on my own to sign on and to do small chores around the house that learned me to be more independent. In the time I started a voluntary job at Ayr Hospital then through the Fairway Project I got a full time job at Pirate Pete’s in Ayr in April 2009.

I have met lots of new friends through the project and attend most of the activities and workshops. The workshops have been of great benefit to me as they have taught me how to conduct myself around others and have made me more aware of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.

Through the time I have been with the Fairway Project I have had lots of support through my Facilitator, Rhona, who I see once a week, I talk to her about my progress and she has been of great support and guidance to me.

I am now very independent and have a full time job and lots of friends, and this is all thanks to Rhona and my aunt and the staff at the Fairway Project.