To celebrate Valley CiDS 25th anniversary, we caught up with people who came to Blend Youth Project when they were younger and invited them to share their memories and reflect on the impact Blend had on their lives.
Annabelle first came to Blend at 11 and continued to attend until she was 16, making memories that have stayed with her ever since.
“There were so many opportunities at Blend,” she recalls. “Trips to Alton Towers, Edale, the zoo, even London! We did spray painting sessions, dancing, so many things we never got to do at school. Without Blend, I wouldn’t have had those wonderful experiences growing up.”
Those experiences helped shape her future. After leaving school, Annabelle completed an apprenticeship in family support and youth work, a decision directly influenced by her time at Blend, before joining the police, where she has now served as a police officer for five years.
“As a young person, I didn’t have much confidence or life experience. Blend helped me talk to people, build social skills, and feel more comfortable being myself. It gave me the passion to work with young people, something that still drives me today.”
Now, more than 18 years later, Annabelle has returned to Blend as a volunteer, giving back to the project that
made such a difference in her own life and helping the next generation grow in confidence, just as she once did.