Jules’ Journey
Jules first came to us through our Invest in Youth Programme, delivered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Having left mainstream education in Year 8 and chosen to be electively home educated, she returned at the end of Year 11 to sit her GCSEs. Like many young people we work with, Jules was navigating uncertainty about what came next.
One of the aims of the programme was to support young people into employment. We recognised something special in Jules and offered her her first paid role with us, giving her the opportunity to gain experience, develop new skills, and grow in confidence.
With support, Jules secured a place at Preston College while continuing to work alongside us. During this time, she played a key role in shaping our Guild Get Together event. From helping to designing and delivering activities for young people, to selecting one of the charities. The Walnut Group Prostate Cancer Support Preston, was chosen by Jules because of her relationship with her Grandad.
Although college initially felt like the right next step, the reality proved difficult. Experiences of bullying began to affect Jules’ mental health, and she realised that a traditional education pathway wasn’t where she thrived. Rather than viewing this as a failure, Jules made the courageous decision to leave college and focus on work that aligned with her strengths, lived experiences, and passion for helping others.
Since then, Jules has gone from strength to strength.
She went on to lead our Rise and Lead mental health project alongside her friend and project volunteer, Logan. Working with young people attending Lancashire County Council’s Targeted Youth Service in Leyland, Jules led a book design session to create a wellbeing workbook designed by young people, for young people.
Drawing on her own experiences, Jules facilitated conversations around emotions, resilience, mental health, and coping with life’s challenges, while capturing the views, ideas, and creativity of the young people involved. Together, they shaped the content and creative direction of the workbook, ensuring it reflected the voices and experiences of those it was designed to support.
The finished resource was showcased to the wider community as part of the Encounter Festival, where Jules took to the stage to present the project and deliver a speech to an audience of more than 50 people. It was an incredible achievement for someone so young and a powerful reflection of just how far she had come.
Jules’ willingness to speak openly about her experiences, connect with other young people through lived experience, and use her own challenges to support others is what makes her such a powerful role model.
Her journey is a reminder that there is no single route to success. When young people are given the opportunity to play to their strengths, surrounded by people who believe in them and encouraged to discover what they’re capable of, incredible things can happen.
Jules’ story isn’t just about overcoming barriers; it’s about finding purpose, building confidence, and showing other young people that their experiences do not define their future.