Anonymous Story

As many young people do, I experienced a few things in life that at the time were extraordinarily difficult to navigate. My mother recommended No 5 because she herself has used the service when she was my age.

Once I started I learned the value of using my voice to communicate all of the things inside that were causing me pain. My counsellor was amazing and to this day, I credit her for getting me to a place where I could rise above the problems that felt insurmountable at the time. I was 16 at the time and life just felt so complicated but No5 made me realise that it was okay. For me it wasn’t about making everything perfect forever, it was about learning how to deal with the things when they occur.

Then I began to work for No5 as a part time receptionist and later an administrator. My time working at No5 gave me a sense of value that I had lacked before, I felt trusted, respected and valued. It set me on a path that now at 30 years old I can look back at and be proud of, it wasn’t perfect and it wasn’t easy. But it was full of lessons that I can now utilise because No5 taught me how to.

Lastly, one important message that I have carried with me since the moment I heard it. One day I was working and I’d made a mistake (as you do) and I remember taking a dreaded walk up 2 flights of stairs to the office of the Director to explain what I’d done. However, instead of the criticism I was ready to receive, I was given the best advice I’ve ever had and I live by today.

She told me, “You’ve done the right thing. How can you fix a mistake and learn from it if you don’t own up to it?” And that is another of the many reasons I will be a supporter of No5 until I am old and grey.

Date of memory: 2014-2017