'I don’t think I’d be able to do what I am doing without the YMCA' - Black Country charity helps turn student’s life around

Clotilda Tiguera has lived in a social rent flat with YMCA Black Country Group for two years and is currently on a nursing placement at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton with aspirations of moving on to do a degree in medicine.

But the 23-year-old could not have imagined being in this position when she first arrived in England from her native Zimbabwe eight years ago and saw her struggle with issues such as homelessness.

The support she has received has inspired her to become a trustee at the YMCA to give back and help others in similar positions.

The accommodation she lives in, known as Y Living, is aimed at helping young people gain independence in a safe and affordable home as well as a trusted landlord in the YMCA.

Another 30 specialist social rented flats for the YMCA are being built by Morro Partnerships at the historic 19th Century Dixon House – which once housed paint firm SJ Dixon – in the Royal Quarter in Wolverhampton.

A further 63 social rent homes are also being built by Morro for Walsall Housing Group right next to the Dixon House flats.

Both of these schemes are being supported by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, who visited the site this week.

Clotilda said: “When I was 15 I was put into care. I came to the country to stay with my family. That didn’t work out.”

“So I went to school and spoke to my teacher who was working with me because English was not my first language,” she added.

“She could see signs and spoke to me and I told her. Police and social services were involved and they referred me to the YMCA.

“They put me with a host family which was amazing. I finished School and went to Keele University.

“I did my biomedical science degree and finished but I wanted to further my education.

“I came to Wolverhampton to do nursing and stayed with some friends in Birmingham but needed my own space. I had a lot of stuff and was studying too.

“I then went to YMCA again and they told me they had a building which I went to have a look. Within a couple of days I had moved in.

“I started University not long after that and it is amazing. My university is in town and within walking distance and I do my placement at New Cross as well.

“It has given me so much independence. It has also given me piece of mind and I’m able to breathe knowing I’ve got my space to study.

“I don’t have anyone else to worry about and I can focus on me and what I want to do.

“I can focus on my study and I can come and cook and have a warm bed to come back to. I don’t think I’d be able to do what I am doing without the YMCA.”

She has completed two out of a three year placement at New Cross where she works in theatre with surgeons.

Clotilda said: “I want to be a surgeon. That’s my ambition. So after this I’m going to medical school.

“I’ve recently become a trustee at the YMCA. I know there are a lot of young people who are in the same situation as me or even worse. I’d just like them to know there is help out there.

“At the time, I didn’t think there was and I was quite scared to speak out. But once I did, I got here.”

Steve Bavington, chief executive of YMCA Black Country, said the accommodation being built will be “transformational”.

He said: “The cost of rent has gone up substantially in the last three or four years so it means it’s really hard to take that first step of independence and then when you do, the percentage of your income going to just your basic housing cost is actually prohibitively high.

“Having affordable accommodation that’s really high spec will make a massive difference to those 30 people living in the flats at any one time.

“One of the things that causes stress for young people is hopelessness and thinking ‘I’ll never be independent or be able to move out’.

“This isn’t home ownership but it’s a step on the ladder and actually being able to have somewhere to call home and is affordable will mean hopefully young people will be able to save for their own place and have somewhere safe and enjoyable and be part of a community.

“There is a huge demand. Although we’re not supportive accommodation, we are supportive. Unlike a landlord who you’ll only see them if you haven’t paid your rent, we have a team of people who support our young people.”

And Mr Parker said: “I’ve been working with Homes England and the Combined Authority team to put a multi-million funding package into this site in order for the YMCA and Walsall Housing Group can develop it out.

“It’s so important because we’ve got in this region around 7,000 families and 13,000 children living in secure temporary accommodation and we will be able to give those families and children a fantastic foundation for the future.”