Case Studies

Kevin’s Story: Faith in myself

My life could have so easily have turned out a different way if it wasn’t for FARE.

I didn’t have the best start in life. In fact, those early years were pretty tough. Living in the east end of Glasgow, I was brought up by a single parent household and my Dad died when I was 12 years old.

By age 14 I would describe myself as an angry wee man. I had been kicked out of School. I had no direction in my life, I had picked up 12 Police charges and spent my time kicking about the streets of Carntyne. It was on the streets of Carntyne that I encountered FARE aged 16, and I began to get involved in their programmes.

I had no qualifications and no faith in myself or an idea of what I could do with my life. But FARE did: they offered me the opportunity to apply for an apprenticeship with FARE to gain an Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 3 in Youth Work. I didn’t think I could do it, but I got the job.

After completing my SVQ, FARE suggested I go on to apply to College to do a Higher National Certificate which I passed, and it was FARE who suggested I don’t stop there and I had the potential to go on to University. In December 2017, I graduated with an Honours Degree from the University of Glasgow.

I remember when FARE first suggested I go to College I said: “Nobody in my family goes to College,” and I’ve gone on to complete an Honours Degree! If it wasn’t for FARE’s ongoing support and commitment my life could have been so different.