Meet Summer

What are your interests and hobbies?
Crochet and creative stuff, boxing and sports.

How long have you been coming to Lift?
About a year ago I met a youth worker called Harriet and she got me along and introduced to all the activities.

What do you do at Lift?
Arts and crafts like crochet and clay work. I am teaching Harriet to crochet, and we are going to start a club. I go to the gym and do the exercises that my physio gave me. I used to go to Sobell and my boxing coach there was Chudi - and now he works here and I have joined his class. He has boosted my confidence and now I volunteer in his classes helping and teaching the younger kids.

How has Lift helped you?
I started off not knowing the job opportunities open to me beyond working in a shop. I now know about sports coaching. I never thought I would be able to do this because of a knee injury. I am now volunteering with Access to Sports once a week at Rose Bowl.

What is the most important thing you have learnt at Lift?
How to coach kids. How to understand how much they can cope with and their limits, which is important so you don't over push them. I know the difference between a visual learner and a talking learner and have done a safeguarding course.

What is the most fun you have ever had?
Lots of different things but it is fun for me to see the kids learning boxing. It makes me really happy - and they keep coming back.

What would you say to a young person that has never been here before?
Definately come, even by yourself, there are lots of opportunities. I knew a few people but everyone will talk to you and there is always something happening. There are multiple activities to try.

What do you hope to be doing in three years’ time?
One, be a fully qualified boxing coach. Two, have my own crochet business. And three, instead of working in a shop I want to be doing something I love.

How is Lift helping you get there?
I think it's great. The youth workers here know how to help make you develop your goals and put you on a specific path to help you achieve them.