Meet Lauren

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Lauren* is the eldest of six siblings and was referred to Solidarity Sports in 2020 by Children’s Services due to safeguarding concerns. She quickly built trusting relationships with our female staff and disclosed that she was self-harming and experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Her struggle with depression has been ongoing, but through attending our school holiday projects, Lauren has received consistent emotional support and developed friendships with other young people she can relate to.

In 2022, we supported Lauren in her application to Cranleigh School, where she was awarded a full scholarship and continues to excel. She now dreams of becoming a lawyer. However, her home life remained unstable. Her father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and last year her home was declared “uninhabitable for human life” due to extreme overcrowding and mould-infested walls held together by rope. Despite her mother reporting the issues repeatedly, it wasn’t until Solidarity Sports intervened that the family was rehoused.

After their move, we helped fundraise so the family could purchase essential white goods and furniture, as most of their belongings had been destroyed. Now preparing to start university in September, Lauren continues to attend our school holiday projects.

Recently, we’ve increased our support, helping with university applications and staying in frequent contact as she navigates her father’s illness and the pressure of her A-level exams.

Lauren* – name changed