Conner’s Journey with YMCA MK’s Hospital Navigator Scheme
Conner had struggled with his mental health for some time and had been in and out of hospital. Both his parents were struggling with alcohol dependency which left Conner without a trusted adult to support him.
In the past Conner had received extensive support from the mental health team at the hospital, having been an in-patient before. In his last visit to the hospital, a nurse referred him to the YMCA MK mentoring scheme via the Hospital Navigator Scheme, he accepted the support as it was something different.
Within 2 days, Emma, our Youth Mentoring Lead, contacted Conner.
He was feeling helpless, isolated, and ready to try anything new that might help.
Conner opened up about his struggles:
• Isolation and lack of social interactions
• Ongoing abuse from his father
• Living with his parents’ alcohol dependency
• Deteriorating mental health
Emma recognised Conner’s need for a safe environment and suggested he apply for housing at YMCA MK. Within a week Conner had a room to call his own.
Conner’s first day at YMCA MK was transformative. He completed a double marathon, an achievement that made him feel accepted and at home. “This is amazing!” Conner came away thinking, with a sense of accomplishment and hope he hadn’t experienced before.
At YMCA MK, Conner found:
• A welcoming community of residents
• Supportive staff
• Simple joys like playing cards with new friends
• Access to a free gym and various activities
Conner engaged with our Employment team, which allowed him to create a video CV with MK College, leading to work experience with Aiimi. This boosted Conner’s confidence, and he gained valuable insight into what being a software developer could look like.
Conner described how YMCA MK has transformed his life.
“At YMCA MK, there are welcoming residents, everyone is mutually supportive, the staff are great and really supportive… it’s the simple stuff that makes me feel at home, just a game of cards and catching up with mates…things that just weren’t possible before.”
“The truth is…if I hadn’t been referred to the HNS by the nurse that day, I would probably be dead by now…but instead I have hope in life again and there’s reason to get up in the mornings, hope for the future!”
YMCA MK’s Hospital Navigator Scheme demonstrates how early intervention and support can benefit young people in our community.
Find out more about our Mentoring Scheme here.
