Emma's story

Emma has been coming to YWCA Wolverhampton since she was 10. She is now 18, has successfully passed her A-levels and won herself a place at university.

When Emma first came to YWCA it was because there was nothing else in the area for girls to do. She continued to come because YWCA gave her opportunities to take part in loads of different activities and learn lots of new things. She says that it all helps to put on her CV for the future.

Emma wants to become a social worker or youth worker. To prepare for this she volunteers at YWCA, helping other young women with their homework, as well as offering them someone near their own age to talk to about any concerns or problems they may have in their life.
‘I’ve just passed my peer mentoring course and it’s really helped. Because I’ve passed it here I don’t have to take it at uni.’

Emma says that coming to YWCA over the years has made her more determined to succeed and that if she hadn’t had it she may well have been very different.

‘Realistically I would have been in so much trouble. I used to be one of them just walking round doing nothing, smoking on the fields.’

Emma tried going to other youth clubs in different areas but she didn’t like them.

‘In other youth clubs you don’t get offered courses. Not a lot of youth clubs where I hear people say: ‘Oh I’m doing this and that.’ They are not activity clubs. They are just somewhere to hang out with friends or sit with their boyfriend.’

‘Here is all girls so you are not out to impress anyone. You can be yourself and not worry.’

Emma is now at university studying to be a social worker.

 Read other young women's stories.