WHEN Nigel Binks sits down with a young person to help them sort out their troubled life he can put himself in their shoes.
The 28-year-old, who was once homeless, was helped by a service like Connexions based at Barca-Leeds in Bramley where he
now works.
Nigel has been involved with Connexions for seven years but he is a different person to the directionless 19-year-old who lived in Belle Isle, south Leeds.
He said: “I had been to school and got a job to just give me some money to get by. I had no focus in life.”
A chance meeting with a community worker led to him spending three months doing voluntary work in Africa.
He said: “Then I decided I wanted to develop myself so I ended up doing the Prince’s Trust voluntary programme at Leeds University and from there it’s just got better and better.
“I think sometimes I can relate to the young people better because I have gone through some of the same things as them, I have been homeless.”
Placements
The Winrose Project supported housing scheme in Belle Isle helped him back on his feet and Nigel did various placements with the council’s youth service.
Eventually he got unpaid work at Barca-Leeds and then a paid job there five years ago.
Connexions in Bramley is part of the national organisation and offers information, support and advice to young people aged 13 to 19, from west Leeds who are not in education, employment or training.
They can make an appointment to talk to one of the three personal advisers – Nigel, Nick Hart or Emma Zurowski – about any issues in their lives.
These can include housing, health, benefits, family, drugs and alcohol or education. Youngsters are guided towards relevant support services.
Advisers deal with situations from teenagers who need help getting a job to those who turn up because they’ve had to leave home.
Connexions also runs drop-in sessions at its base on Upper Town Street in Bramley, where young people can access sexual health information. Emma also plans to start a baby reality programme for young people.
l Contact Connexions on 0113 255 9582, Nigel on 07756 900251 or Nick on 07960 788007.
