Meet a YPA!

I have been a Young Person’s Advisor (YPA) for more than 7 years and I love my job.  It’s not just the fact that I can make a difference but, I am invested in helping care leavers achieve the very best they can and to go through life situations with them.

One day, a young person I had been supporting for nearly three years asked me to be her birthing partner, she commented “you know me better than anyone else!”. I was so chuffed that she thought of me and I of course wanted to agree straightaway but I needed to get advice from managers first. So with my excitement I shared this with my colleagues and managers and they all agreed it would be a wonderful thing to do.  As the pregnancy progressed I was kept up to date on appointments and scans and watched her grow and prepare for her baby, taking in advice and information from many sources.  I was able to access funds from Bromley to help with her pregnancy and even had donated items from Bromley’s sale and wants page, which was a great help. The last few weeks of the pregnancy was hard, followed by her due date passing and no sign of the baby. In the end she gave birth by an emergency C-section to a beautiful baby girl supported by hospital staff.  I was so happy and chuffed at how brave she was and how natural she has taken to being a mum. I am so proud of her!