Rewriting Lowri's Story

I think I just have a completely different mindset now. It’s never going to be perfect, but I understand myself more.

Lowri* is in Year 9 and has been part of the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) programme since starting secondary school. Now in her final year of the three-year SOHK programme, she is looking to the future with much more clarity, hope, and resilience. 

At home, Lowri lives with her parents, though she describes their relationship as difficult and often overwhelming. Her older siblings have moved out, and she sometimes feels caught between independence and needing support. School has been challenging too – Lowri has faced school suspensions and struggled with feeling out of place, even admitting, “I don’t like school – I don’t know why.” 

Diagnosed with depression at a young age, she describes feeling “constantly angry”. When she first joined SOHK, Lowri was in a difficult place and felt misunderstood. But as time went on, things began to shift.  

Lowri credits the SOHK programme – particularly the opportunity to talk openly and be listened to – for helping her reflect on her choices and find ways to cope.

“Just letting me talk about the situation… even if you didn’t care, just acting like you did care helped. It made me feel like I was more understood instead of people telling me I’ll be fine (that’s the worst thing you can say to someone)!” 

Lowri has grown into a confident, self-aware, and funny young woman. She has a big personality and is popular, with a wide circle of acquaintances and a small group of friends.  

She says: “Stuff is way better now. Me, myself…I think I just have a completely different mindset now. It’s never going to be perfect, but I understand myself more.”  

She has truly relished the physical side of SOHK’s rugby sessions and recognises the positive impact it’s had: “I think exercise is a good way to help… At the start of Year 7, I was not so good at it. But as I got older, things have changed. SOHK has helped me change my perspective on things. It has given me reassurance that I wasn’t going insane.” 

With a passion for creativity and a clear ambition and career aspirations, Lowri intends to pass her English and Maths GCSEs, and go on to college. 

From the Welsh delivery team: 

Lowri has been a joy to work with. Over the past three years, we’ve built a relationship based on mutual respect. She’s kind, funny, and has grown into someone who can influence her peers in such a positive way. We’ll miss her when she moves on from the programme – but we’re so proud of the young woman she’s becoming.

*Name and image have been changed to protect the identity of our beneficiary.