BP, 19, was referred to Centrepoint by his social work team three years ago. After a series of injuries stopped his career in football, he's recently completed his security training and is now looking for roles that work for him.
Being referred to Centrepoint
BP, 19, came to Centrepoint three years ago after he left care. At 16, his social work team made the referral for him to move into shared accommodation and he was placed in a Centrepoint home. He moved around a lot doing his childhood being in and out of care and coming to Centrepoint gave him a fixed place to live.
“I’ve been in care most of my life and when I finished care they put me in the shared accommodation. I’ve moved quite a lot in my life which is annoying.”
Moving career paths
BP has tried a lot of different careers and activities during his life, trying to find out what works for him and his physical and mental health.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be a footballer but I’ve been in a lot of injuries so I wish I could still play football”. After a bike accident when he was younger, BP was no longer able to play football and quickly looked at other career paths. “I’ve had a lot of injuries so I wish I could play football, but I can’t play professionally or semi-professionally”.
His next move was into landscape gardening, something that he really enjoyed, and he learnt a lot about different plants and the science behind maintaining plant health. He remembers it being really hard work, especially on his back, but he enjoyed the challenge of tending to and managing an 8-acre private garden.
“The landscape gardening was good to be honest – it was really fun. It’s a lot about the details and you have to learn about all the plants and that’s the hard bit, having to know the actual scientific names and stuff. It was really good to be honest and I enjoyed it. It's fun but it's hard work as well on your knees and your back mostly”.
However, after a year he had to take a step back from landscape gardening due to his injuries, which were under a lot of strain because of the nature of the work. “I did landscape gardening for about a year, but I had those injuries at the time, and it made it worse, so I stopped working. I would like to go into construction but as I said these injuries. When you have ongoing injuries and you go into physical stuff, sometimes it can make it worse.”
He’s now taking some time to focus on his physical and mental health to make sure that he can be in the right headspace and give himself time to heal before going back to work. “I’m just trying to focus on my health right now to be honest”.
He’s recently begun handing out his CV when he sees an opportunity that sounds good to him, showing how proactive he is being in taking those next steps towards his future. “I’m more of a face-to-face person. If I see someone doing a job I like, I’ll go in there and I’ll give them my CV”.
Completing his security training
BP recently completed a six-day security course with first aid training, to help him take the next step towards a qualification to work in the security sector. On the course all of the young people attending, who lived at Centrepoint services, learnt vital lifesaving skills, communication and de-escalation tactics and tips on how to defend yourself. Their support worker arranged for the classes with the help of W12Together, a community led organisation which works to build opportunities for residents of different cultures, ages and talents to come together to learn new skills.
BP had a longstanding interest in moving into the security sector and this course felt like the perfect opportunity to find out more and see what this career might include. “I wanted to do it because I need the qualification, and it was a pretty quick course. My support worker got me the placement and it was really good, I actually enjoyed it”.
BP said the training was an eye-opening opportunity and he learnt a lot about how complex a role in security might be in keeping the public, and himself, safe. “There are a lot of rules of what you can and can’t do. It shocked me, but not in a bad way. It’s a hard job out there and you can get easily prosecuted. There are a lot of risks in door supervisor and stuff.”
After completing the course, he is now looking to finish the background checks in order to get his badge and, potentially, start taking on roles around the community.
Looking to his future
Although excited to start a possible career in security, for BP he has had a creative passion since school that he would love the opportunity to pursue. “I’ve always wanted to be a jewellery designer and seller.”
After studying jewellery and design at school, a keen interest was sparked in him, and he began to take his designs home with him. Although a tricky skill to master, BP was determined to make it work and knew that no matter what he did in the future he wanted to follow a career path that he enjoyed and made him happy.
“I’ve always wanted to do something that I enjoy, and I don’t want a job that I don’t enjoy. Money needs to be made but at the same time, I don’t want to do it if I don’t enjoy it and that’s how I am”.
When looking back at his own journey, he recognised the difference in everyone’s lives but had a piece of advice that would resonate with anyone no matter their experience. “Everyone has a different life. But just keep doing what you’re doing and keep focused”.
BP’s journey shows his determination in finding a role that works for him and his health and his tenacity in putting himself out there. We wish him all the best for his next step.