I have lived at Lisieux Trust since 2012. I was 21 when I moved in, so I’ve been here a long time now. Over the years it has truly become like a second family to me. The staff are kind, supportive and always there when I need them.

On a daily basis, staff help me with things like washing my clothes, changing my bedding and supporting me with cooking. We have a cooking rota in the house and I cook every Friday. All the tenants have their own day to cook, which helps us build independence and confidence. I enjoy preparing my own meal and taking responsibility for that.

If I need to go somewhere new and I’m not familiar with the area, staff will go with me the first couple of times. Once I feel comfortable and know where I’m going, I can go by myself. That support has really helped me grow in confidence and become more independent.

Over the years, I’ve had many key workers, and you build a closer relationship with them because they support you with your goals and interests. My previous key worker, Shaun, helped me learn to play the keyboard by adding stickers to the keys to show me the notes. That made it much easier for me to understand and improve my skills.

My current key worker is Abi. He supports me with lots of things and encourages me to try new experiences. Abi has taken me out to different restaurants, including Indian restaurants, which I really enjoyed. We are also planning a holiday to Spain together with my housemate Nick, which I’m really looking forward to.

One of my biggest passions is music. With support from staff, especially TJ, I’ve been able to go to a recording studio and record my own rap lyrics over instrumental beats. I find beats on YouTube, send them to the studio, and go into the booth to record. If it doesn’t sound right the first time, I keep practising until I’m happy with it. I’ve written a lot of raps and I’m proud of that. TJ has also taken me to two 50 Cent concerts, one in London – we also visited Buckingham Palace that day too –  which were amazing experiences I’ll never forget.

Living at Lisieux Trust has helped me become more confident, independent, and happy. The staff are always there when I need them, and I’m grateful for the support I receive every day.