'They saved me': How Leeds care leaver turned his life around after being kicked out of school
He struggled at school and was eventually expelled
A care leaver in Leeds has spoken about how he turned his life around after being kicked out of school.
Michael Duna, 18, lost count of the care and foster homes he was placed with throughout his early years, having first entered the care system, aged two.
With no stability at home, he struggled at school and was eventually expelled.
In recent years, Michael has turned his life around and, now an apprentice plumber, is hoping that sharing his experience he can help others, who are struggling to find their way in the care system.
“I want to help people, like I was helped,” Michael told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “As a care kid you bounce about, it’s hard because you just want to feel loved. You want to feel like somebody cares and that caused me to be out doing stupid stuff on the streets.
“Care can feel like the end of the road and you don’t know what’s going to happen but you’ve got to just go with the flow and keep going. You’ve got to keep yourself busy and make yourself have a routine.”
After leaving mainstream school, Michael was referred to Springwell Leeds, a specialist academy that provides care and education for children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
At Springwell students can undertake electrical and plumbing activities at Building Futures Together (BFT), a Pudsey-based company, created to support young people aged 11-16 and post-16 who need an alternative to mainstream education.
Through practical construction training, BFT helps young people improve engagement, attendance and progression into further education, apprenticeships and skilled work.
Michael first attended BFT one day a week during term time when he was 14, and is now on the 16-19 advanced construction course working towards his diploma and becoming a fully qualified plumber.
Most importantly, this stability and support provided Michael with a safe place and helped change the trajectory of his life.
“I can honestly say, and I mean this, it has saved me,” Michael said. “Attending Building Futures has kept me out of trouble and kept me on the straight and narrow. They’ve opened a door for me and I’ve loved it.
“Before I started attending, I was getting arrested but here I feel safe and it has given me something to look forward to. If it weren’t for here then I don’t know where I would be now.”
With the support of his foster mum, Amanda, Michael now has plans to give back and will be supporting BFT, working as a mentor for other young people, as they prepare to open their brand-new dedicated post-16 facility in Wortley.
The new site, which is set to open later this month, will work exclusively with young people who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Managing director, John Thornton, who co-founded Building Futures Together in 2020, is hopeful that Michael’s success will help guide other vulnerable young people.
“You build relationships that are quite close, almost father and son,” John said. “People in care ultimately just want to feel love and feel that connection with something or someone so I’m immensely proud seeing Michael come on as he has done.
“Our passion is to help the underdog, those that are written off. Michael’s story proves that if you spend a bit of time, show a bit of compassion, a bit of love and a bit of guidance then you can bring the best out of people.”