Along with encouragement, support and confidence-building from The Wallich, she’s started a new life.
“I used to always dream about escaping.
I didn’t have a good family connection. My parents weren’t really supportive. And I was told quite a lot that, you know, nothing would come of me. I tried to go to college but with having my daughter on my own, I ended up dropping out.
I just didn’t have very good emotional support, so I didn’t really think much of myself, which then I think led me into an abusive relationship.
I very rarely left the house because I was always accused of cheating and things and he put me in such a bad place in the end.
When I didn’t have any support, I contemplated taking my own life. I just couldn’t go through with it because I didn’t want to leave my daughter. I love her so much, you know.
I started googling things for help on the internet because I knew I really needed help.
There was a couple of nights when I was in bed and I couldn’t sleep and I used to ring the Samaritans just for somebody to talk to. It was really hard.”
“Then I found DASU [Domestic Abuse Safety Unit] and they put us in a safe house. My body went into survival mode then. I was quite tired for a while and reliving the situations.
But with cutting ties with everybody, I think I could see the extent of the things that I’ve been through. And it was a really, really difficult time.
And then, we made a friend here who told me about The Wallich. And that’s when I met Rachael [Asset Coach].
I’m glad because I don’t think I’d be where I am now without The Wallich. I don’t even think I would have survived. I don’t think I’d have lived.
I felt stuck in a rut, stuck in a room, didn’t know anybody. It was just me and my daughter.
The Wallich has really helped pull me out and show me places. I know my way around. I know places to go. I know where there’s support. It’s helped me make friends.
I just don’t think I would have had that emotional support to convince myself that things do get better. I don’t think I would have had that without The Wallich.
They [The Wallich] helped me believe in myself again. You know you get a bit torn, when you’ve been told that you’ll amount to nothing most of your life, and then you meet nice people who can see the good in you and reassure you that you are a good person and you do mean well and it’s really nice.”
Kerry worked with Rachael, our Asset Coach for North Wales, and Ben, our Engagement and Wellbeing Mentor, to build confidence in herself, as part of The Wallich’s outdoor wellbeing programme.
“I used to still have battles with my mental health. But then I’d go onto some of the hikes and walks with The Wallich. And there’d be days where I’d think I just didn’t want to get out of bed. But with a bit of encouragement, I’d do it.
And I managed to scramble to the top of Siabod, which I don’t know how I did, but that was such a boost from my mental health. There were days when I didn’t think I could get out of bed and then I climbed to the top of there and I was on top of the world.
And then we climbed Snowdon! I think you need to encourage yourself to get up there and do those kind of things. So that’s made me a lot stronger as well.
The laughs and things we’d have on the way and the people that you also meet along the way, it’s a really good community.”
“I’ve got a whole new home, a new life, new friends, new connections.
I’m going to college in September to study counselling because I want to help support people the way The Wallich helped support me. If I can help other people in the same way, that will make me happy.
I just can’t say enough about the Wallich. They really helped me.”