“I found it hard to leave the house and I couldn’t see how my life could change. Asking for help from Bridges Project was the best thing I did.”

In just a couple of years, Erin Richardson has gone from being overwhelmed by anxiety and not wanting to leave her room to working as a Childcare Practitioner and being a key part of Bridges Project’s Young Ambassadors team.

Erin, from Longniddry, has been struggling with anxiety ever since she was diagnosed with dyslexia whilst at school.

“Every day at school was very challenging, making me feel tired and feeding into my anxiety. In my head, I just wanted to be ‘normal’ like my school peers,” says the 20-year-old.

“I found myself not really showing interest or engaging in life. I was lonely, sad and my life was very small. I found it hard to leave the house when I was having really bad anxiety days. I couldn’t see how my life could change. All I could see was negativity and my barriers.”

Everything changed when Erin was referred to Bridges Project by her Guidance Teacher at Preston Lodge High School in late 2019 and was introduced to Sam Lamond, who at the time was working for the charity’s Way2Work service.

“Sam was so kind, supportive and understanding about how difficult I found things. She gave me strength which I hadn’t had before. She gave me strategies to keep fighting my anxiety and keep thinking positively about my life and future,” says Erin.

“Sam is really easy to talk to. She has never not been available to talk to me. She never lost hope in my potential, even though I couldn’t see it. Sam helped me understand that dyslexia is a part of who I am, not something to be embarrassed about, and that is gives me strength in others areas.”

Erin and Sam worked on anxiety management, mindfulness and confidence building before moving on to employability training. This paid off, as in the summer of 2021, Erin secured a Childcare Practitioner apprenticeship with Fenton Barns Nursery in North Berwick. She is now fully qualified in SVQ in Social Services (Children and Young People) and currently works as a supply Childcare Practitioner for East Lothian Council.

Alongside her job of helping children get the best possible start in life, Erin has also become a key part of Bridges Project’s Young Ambassadors team. The Young Ambassadors are a group of young current and past Bridges Project clients who assist the charity with its strategic planning and develop youth-led events and services.

“It got to a point where I felt I would be able to give back to other young people. For instance, I am going to co-deliver a health and wellbeing course to young people, which centres a lot around personal development and allows me to use the journey I have had myself to help others,” says Erin.

The fact that she works as a Childcare Practitioner and helps other young people through volunteering just demonstrates the incredible progress Erin has made since she first started engaging with Bridges Project. When asked about how she would have reacted if someone had told her back in 2019 what her life would look like in 2023, the 20-year-old just smiles.

“I would have laughed at them!” she says.

“I am really proud of what I have done. Receiving support from Bridges Project and now volunteering for the charity has helped me grow and find skills I wouldn’t have thought about before,” says the Young Ambassador.

“A joy to watch”

Sam is also proud of Erin’s achievements

“It has been a joy to watch Erin’s confidence grow. The fact that she decided to become a Young Ambassador because she feels it is important to ‘give back’ really sums Erin up. She wants to help others understand that things can get better with the right help and support. I know Erin is at the start of an exciting new chapter in her life and I look forward to celebrating all of her future achievements,” says Erin’s support worker.

Erin has now become a proper advocate for Bridges Project.

“Bridges Project is an amazing organisation with such a fantastic team who help young people and gives them strength and hope that things can change. Support is personalised for what you need help with and the fact that support can be long-term is a key success factor,” she says.

Erin hopes that other young people in East Lothian and Midlothian who need support do not hesitate to reach out.

“Without Bridges Project I would be such a different person. The support I received was life-changing. My advice to anyone who is struggling is not to be scared or worried, just ask for help. It was the best thing I did.”