Turning lives around: Jameel's story

At 15 or 16, you are just not stable enough to even know what kind of relationship you want, let alone have a child. To have a child is a shock."

Parents, like Jameel, want the best for their children but for many, poverty, unsuitable housing, domestic violence, lone parenthood, and being a young parent can all disrupt their ability to cope.

Barnardo’s provides parenting groups and one-to-one support with parents who have particular needs, such as helping girls who become pregnant whilst still at school to finish their education and prepare for parenthood.

Help us turn lives around. Your support will make a difference to the lives of young people like Jameel across the UK.

Nicole is one such young mother who needed a helping hand.

Read Nicole's story

Nicole was 14 when she became pregnant. Now 19, she lives in Wakefield with her five year-old son, George.

A difficult experience

At 13, Nicole started hanging out with older kids in her neighbourhood drinking cider at night. One night her drink was spiked and she was raped by two older boys. She told her parents and the police were involved, but they never found out who raped her.

She started not turning up to school and having problems with her teachers. She just couldn't face being there.

At 14, she met an older boyfriend who was 23, but they split up when she became pregnant.

Finding her feet

Nicole's social worker introduced her to the Barnardo’s Young Families programme so she could meet other young mums.

Young Families helped Nicole to arrange childcare for George two days a week, and she went back to school when George was five months old, then took her GCSE’s later, getting one B, three Cs and three Ds. They loaned her a computer so she could do some work at home when George was in bed.

I wouldn’t have been able to go to the library with a baby. They really helped to give my self confidence a boost."

Nicole has been able to share her experience of being a teen mum when Young Families asked Nicole to do a speech at a conference.

I was 15 and it was to 250 people! There had been a lot of research done that linked teenage pregnancies with poverty. I was able to stand up and say ‘ look, it happened to me! Don’t be fooled! ’ I was shaking, I was that scared, but I just told my story and people listened. It was great."

Barnardo's helped Nicole to study for a BTEC in Early Years and she now has a full time job at a nursery. She's done many after dinner speeches for Barnardos since as well as voluntary work and contributing to research panels.

With your help, Barnardo's supports young people like Nicole to turn their lives around.