From Tears to Skipping Through the Doors: How Wigan Youth Zone Helped Dotty Find Her Confidence
At home with her family, Dotty is happy, silly and full of confidence. But in unfamiliar settings, she could become much more shy and reserved. Meeting new people, trying something for the first time or being away from her family could feel like a big challenge.
For Dotty, walking through the doors of somewhere new could feel overwhelming. But after spending the summer at Wigan Youth Zone Holiday Club, something began to change.
With the support of youth workers, volunteers and a welcoming community around her, Dotty has grown in confidence, tried new things, made friends and discovered a whole new side of herself.
A new experience, away from home
Dotty lives in Blackpool and had traditionally spent her summer holidays with her grandparents. This year, her dad arranged for Dotty and her brother to stay with their aunt throughout the summer so they could spend more time in Wigan — his home town — and with their wider family.
When he heard about the experiences and activities available at Wigan Youth Zone, he was more than happy for the children to spend some of their summer trying something new and making memories in the town that means so much to their family.
But for Dotty, there was one big challenge.
She would be away from home, away from her mum and spending time in a completely unfamiliar environment.
Before joining the Youth Zone, unfamiliar situations could be difficult for Dotty. Being dropped off somewhere new could leave her feeling upset and worried, and she often needed lots of reassurance before approaching other young people or joining an activity.
She first discovered Wigan Youth Zone at an open day in 2024. She loved trying the activities, particularly the climbing wall, and that first experience encouraged her to come back.
But when she began attending more regularly, being away from her family was still a huge hurdle.
Someone was always there
The difference at Wigan Youth Zone was that Dotty found people who understood.
Youth workers and volunteers took the time to get to know her, reassure her and help her feel comfortable at her own pace. If she wasn’t ready to join in straight away, there was no pressure.
There was always someone willing to welcome her, listen to her and simply sit with her for as long as she needed.
Quiet spaces, including the art room and wellbeing room, also gave Dotty somewhere she could go when she needed a little time to herself.
Those small moments of patience and reassurance made a big difference.
Slowly, Dotty began to take those first steps towards joining in.
She started trying activities she hadn’t experienced before. She began talking to other young people. She made friends.
And, most importantly, she started to realise that she could do things she had once been unsure about.
From trying new activities to teaching her brother
Dotty quickly discovered that the Youth Zone was a place where she could be herself.
She loves art and music and particularly enjoys spending time in the Base, where she can be creative while relaxing.
She even learnt how to make loom bands — something she had never tried before.
Now, she teaches her brother how to make them too.
It might seem like a small thing, but for Dotty, it represents something much bigger: having the confidence to try something new, learn something for herself and then share it with somebody else.
Her confidence has continued to grow outside of activities too.
At the Youth Zone’s Back to School Party, Dotty joined in with a game of bingo and found herself chatting to the young people around her.
They didn’t win.
But that didn’t matter.
Dotty was still incredibly happy because she had people to talk to and had enjoyed being part of the experience.
"I always thought I was shy"
Perhaps the biggest change has been the way Dotty now sees herself.
She says she always thought she was shy.
But her experiences at Wigan Youth Zone have made her realise that she might actually be quite outgoing.
That confidence is beginning to follow her beyond the Youth Zone, too.
Before coming to Holiday Club, Dotty was nervous about reading in front of her class at school. But after finding the confidence to sing in front of everyone during a music activity, she now believes she could stand up and read to her classmates too.
One small moment of confidence has created another possibility.
And then another.
From being scared to leave, to not wanting to go home
Dotty’s aunt has seen the transformation first-hand.
At the beginning of the summer, dropping Dotty off at Holiday Club was difficult. She could become extremely nervous and upset because being away from her family and entering an unfamiliar environment felt frightening.
Her aunt knew how much of a challenge it was for her to walk through those doors.
But after just a few sessions, something incredible happened.
Dotty went from being worried about being left at Holiday Club to skipping through the doors — and not wanting to leave.
Her aunt even started to notice the Youth Zone appearing in Dotty’s play at home.
In the evenings, Dotty would role-play running her very own Youth Zone, turning her family into young people attending “Pemberton Youth Zone”.
Her brother, two-year-old cousin, aunt and uncle all became participants, while Dotty took on the role of Holiday Club Manager.
She would pretend to sign everyone in, organise activities she had learnt at Wigan Youth Zone and even create her own accident forms.
The impact of the experience was no longer just something happening while she was at the Youth Zone.
She was taking it home with her.
On some of her Holiday Club sessions, Dotty would even wear her red Hello Kitty jumper because she wanted to feel like one of the Youth Workers who had inspired her so much.
Her aunt couldn’t be more grateful to the Youth Zone team for the special effort they made to help Dotty feel included, understood and safe.
A place to belong, and people who believe in you
Dotty comes from a happy and loving family, surrounded by people who care deeply about her.
But her story is an important reminder that every young person can have worries, insecurities and moments when they don’t feel confident — even when they have a strong support network around them.
Sometimes, it can be one conversation.
One patient youth worker.
One person sitting beside them until they’re ready.
One activity they never thought they would try.
And one person saying, “It’s okay, take your time.”
For Dotty, those moments have helped her discover confidence she didn’t know she had.
Wigan Youth Zone has given her somewhere to spend her time, make friends, discover new interests and, most importantly, believe a little more in herself.
When asked why the Youth Zone’s youth workers are so important to her, Dotty had a simple answer:
“They are always patient and there to help.”
And sometimes, that is exactly what young people need.