Sticking around for Jack
Having been let down by adults and struggling to cope with past trauma, 15-year-old Jack* felt detached and alone.
Meet Jack
When we first met Jack, he barely spoke.
After years of feeling let down by adults, the world for Jack felt hostile, disappointing and unsafe. Disengaged from education and struggling to build relationships, he had withdrawn into himself – anxious and overwhelmed by a world that seemed to take but never give.
Building Trust
Yet when Amy, Jack’s Railway Children Youth Practitioner, prepared to leave after their first meeting, he quietly asked if he could see her again. That question marked the beginning of trust – and the start of a new road for Jack.
Walking side by side outdoors helped Jack relax, and when Amy reassured him she would support him for as long as he needed, Jack’s relief was palpable.
“He asked me how long I’d be able to help him for,” says Amy, “and I was able to say, ‘for as long as you need me’, which was lovely, and a key part of Jack feeling he could trust me.”
As their sessions continued, Jack began to open up about the difficulties he faced at home and school, and how these experiences had affected his mental health.
Slowly, as Amy listened, Jack’s confidence began to grow.
Showing Up
With Amy’s support, Jack began to work through the issues that had been holding him back.
He found the courage to return to school, where he sat – and passed – five GCSEs.
Today, he’s studying photography and digital media at college, excited about the future and proud of how far he’s come.
Jack credits his new-found confidence with one thing: Amy kept showing up. His story shows just how vital long-term mental health support is for children – not just in their moment of crisis, but for as long as they need.
A gift today means we can continue showing up for children like Jack for as long as they need
£19 pays for an hour of one-to-one support for a vulnerable young person in the UK.
*Names changed and models used to protect identities.
