Born in London, Will had a happy childhood. It wasn’t until he began secondary school that he noticed that he was different from the other children.
“From 11, I suffered from constant anxiety and felt nervous. Due to being small for my age and being quiet, I was bullied at school, which made me feel withdrawn, sad and sometimes very angry.”
Will’s parents become increasingly concerned about his behaviour, and suspected that he could be suffering from anxiety. At 14 years old, they took him to the GP for help and advice.
“I was taken to my GP and then referred to Hounslow CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) which involved having counselling sessions where I was encouraged to talk about my depression, anger and anxiety. It is here that I was diagnosed with autism.”
After his diagnosis, Will changed schools several times until his was 18. Despite the constant change and upheaval, he managed to leave school with one GCSE in English. After leaving school, Will struggled to find work and barely left his family home.
“I found contact with people was making me really anxious, which affected my mental state.”
Will found temporary employment in administration and warehouses, but could not see a future for his career. It wasn’t until he found work in the field of Horticulture that this began to change.
“I started a 3-month contract with Groundworks South in 2024 and found that I was really enjoying the role. Not only was I learning new industry skills, but I enjoyed working outdoors and within a small team. This role helped me improve my communication and confidence, and even my parents started to see improvements in my general wellbeing.”
Once that contract ended, Will decided to pursue this career and successfully applied for the role of Grounds Maintenance Operative at Blue Sky Services. Despite feeling anxious about starting this new job, Will has now been working at Blue Sky Services for nine months.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my role at Blue Sky Services. Not only do I enjoy the nature of the work, but I also love the variety of the job, and the fact that we are a close-knit team who always look out for and support each other.
“I had discussions with my colleagues about my mental health soon after I started my role and my team members have been extremely supportive. I really like that I am not treated any differently from my colleagues and that we hardly discuss my situation but having the blend of being encouraged and supported to talk when I have issues.”
Will’s self-esteem and confidence have improved dramatically since working with Forward.
“I am no longer the timid young man sitting in silence. Now, I am encouraged to voice my opinions and ideas during the normal working day and during any team meetings or training sessions. I have never felt better and am now waking up every morning feeling cheerful and looking forward to work.”
Whilst he is really enjoying his role at Blue Sky, Will has plans to eventually attend university to study Marine Biology.
“I have been fascinated with the sea from a young age and have been lucky to have travelled abroad to see different environments. Blue Sky Services are completely behind my plans, and I have already been advised that they will support me as an when I am ready to take the next steps.”
