“I’ve been that kid that didn’t have anyone to talk to. Now I want to give back to other young people.”

Lauren Thompson shares her story of how Bridges Project became a turning point in her life and why she is volunteering as a Mentor for the Listening Peers service.

I’ve been that kid that didn’t have anyone to talk to. I was put into a very adult role at a very young age and I didn’t know what I was doing. I thought that I was going to be on my own with it forever and that was how it was supposed to be.

Then I got sent to Bridges by my school. I didn’t think that it was going to be much different from what I had experienced before. I didn’t think I was going to get anything out of it - that it was just going to be adults that again weren’t listening or were just telling me that I was fine and put a smile on. I didn’t open up to anybody when I was first here. I just visited my stubborn teenage head saying: ‘Screw this. I don’t want to be here’.

After a while of people just being persistent and stubborn enough to actually put up with me, I did start talking and it made a big difference. It surprised me, actually, how much of a difference getting it out and actually having someone that was actually hearing me made to how I was feeling. It was nice to know that what I was feeling was actually right. It wasn’t ok that I was in this situation.

I would like to be able to give that back to somebody because there are so many people that are in that situation where they are not listened to. This is particularly the case for young people and I think it is probably even harder for them with everything that is going on now as well. I want to be able to help support people and give them someone to have a shoulder to cry on or to just distract them – if that’ what they need – or support.

If you’re interested in becoming a Mentor like Lauren, please send an email to our Listening Peers Coordinator Neil Maclean: nmaclean@bridgesproject.org.uk

Listening Peers is funded by the Partnership Drugs Initiative, administered by the Corra Foundation, and Midlothian and East Lothian Drugs and Alcohol Partnership (MELDAP).