Aimee’s story: Big Give 2024

Transitioning from college to the next stage in life can be challenging for anyone, but for Aimee, the journey was especially tough. During her time in college, Aimee faced struggles with her mental health and felt a lack of support, which made the process of moving forward even more difficult.

Aimee now attends our New Forest Day Opportunities, where she has finally found the understanding and community she longed for. Here, she opens up about how those early challenges impacted her and how being part of a supportive environment has helped her grow.

‘I left college in February 2022, I did a trial at Minstead Trust and it took a while for the funding to come through but I’ve been here about a year. The college I went to, I think when the lady who was the Head of Special Needs Department left it went downhill, she really helped me. I don’t think the others understood my mental state at all. I was bullied at college and they said to me that these people will be kicked out and they didn’t get kicked out. I think that destroyed my mental health a lot.

I lost my Dad when I was 11 and I still got comments at college about that. I don’t think that helped my mental health. I’m not a person to get angry and I got angry. They said they would kick me out.

I didn’t get any options. It’s like you could work here, but you don’t have any qualifications, so you can’t work here. So I said, can you help me with that and they said no we don’t do that side.

My nan said have you heard of Minstead Lodge and then my mum contacted here.

My time at Minstead Trust has improved my mental state and I’ve got more friends because all my other friends have gone to university so I don’t really see them, but I see friends here.

I love walking the donkeys here. I would now like to work with animals, because I’ve always been bought up around animals.

I don’t get as nervous coming here. I think my confidence has grown. A few of my friends have noticed.

I like the routine. When I left college, I didn’t have anything to do, I was in my head 24/7 and now I’m here my mental health has improved.

The art teacher at school said I can’t draw and I won’t be good at art. I failed my art at college so I didn’t think I’d be good at craft. I do arts and crafts here and make thing to sell at Furzey Gardens. I think art calms me down a lot, since being here. I’ve always liked art and I think since being here I know what I’m doing. My nan and I go to Southampton Art Gallery.

For people leaving college, I think look for places that you like and don’t be in your head all the time. I think going to places will improve your confidence because when you leave college they ditch you.’

To find out how you can help people like Aimee thrive after college please visit our website.