James’ Story

James lived with his mum until she sadly passed away. Like James, his mum had also been a YMCA Milton Keynes resident. After her passing, he stayed briefly with his aunt but didn’t really feel like he had a place there.

He moved into our old building for a year in a shared dorm before transferring into Supported Living when our new campus opened. Having his own room and the campus was “night and day.”

Soon after, Covid hit. James had his struggles, but things began to improve when he started working at HomeGround Café, helping prepare residents’ meals behind the scenes as his anxiety prevented him from working front of house. As his confidence grew, he moved into Shared Living and eventually began serving customers, which he enjoyed even more than kitchen work.

After a year at HomeGround, James became the first resident to move through all three stages of our programme, finishing in Independent Living. His progress led to a warehouse job offered to him by a regular HomeGround customer.

Looking back, James said: “The keyworkers were fantastic… They just kept me sane really and helped me with my issues.” He also took full advantage of YMCA’s activities: “There wasn’t much I didn’t do. Yoga, football, all kinds of exercise.”

James moved on a couple of years ago. Today, he works full time in a job he enjoys, is training for his HGV licence, and is thriving: “I’ve never been in a better place.”

His advice for others? “While you’re here, make the most of it. A lot of people see it as just a place to stay, not the assets it can bring.”