From Abuse to Ambition: Shell’s Story of Overcoming Self-Doubt | Genuine Futures Boss Your Future

Posted on: 16th June 2025 | 5 min

Some stories don’t need editing. They just need to be heard.

Shell’s story is raw, real, and deeply important — because behind every young person who’s been written off by society, there is untapped potential waiting to rise. At Genuine Futures, we believe in creating the space for that potential to be seen. Shell didn’t just walk through our doors — she stepped into her power. And she’s now helping others do the same.

A Childhood Without Choices

Born and raised in Salford, Shell didn’t have the kind of childhood that nurtures dreams. She grew up experiencing abuse, neglect, and a crushing sense of powerlessness.

“I never had a choice growing up,” she says. “It felt like my path was already decided — and it wasn’t a good one.”

Shell was misunderstood, undiagnosed, and excluded — not just from school, but from the kind of safe environments where kids are meant to thrive. She describes it as feeling like having locked-in syndrome — fully aware of her surroundings, full of thoughts and ideas, but no one ever really saw her.

She was written off in school, told she’d never be anything. And sadly, that message stuck.

The Ongoing Struggle

Shell is now a full-time mum raising children who are also facing undiagnosed challenges. She’s trying to break a cycle that never gave her a fair start.

“Being a mum is hard enough,” she says, “but when your kids are also struggling and people still don’t understand — it’s overwhelming.”

Despite her challenges, Shell qualified as a hairdresser in 2023. But years of being told she wasn’t good enough left her full of self-doubt.

“I didn’t do much with it because I just didn’t believe in myself,” she admits. “I’ve always been around the wrong people. No one really lifted me up.”

That changed when she discovered Genuine Futures.

A Space to Be Heard

Shell came to one of our Boss Your Future sessions not knowing what to expect. But what she found was something she hadn’t experienced in a long time —belief.

“It’s such a nice place — people believe in you, they listen, and they don’t laugh at your ideas,” she told us. “You don’t feel like you’re stuck in a box or pushed under the rug.”

That moment was a turning point. She didn’t just connect with the programme — she committed to it. Within days, Shell joined as a volunteer, determined to help others who were feeling what she had felt for so long: invisible.

“You’re going to help me — and I’m going to help others,” she said.

From Survivor to Supporter

Shell’s decision to volunteer wasn’t about fixing her past — it was about shaping her future. Through Genuine Futures, she’s gaining experience, rebuilding confidence, and finding purpose in helping others who’ve been let down by the same systems.

Her dream? To use her hairdressing skills to run pop-up salons for young people who need a boost in confidence — free haircuts, friendly chats, and a reminder that they matter.

“I want to gain experience by helping others,” she says. “Genuine Futures is going to push me towards my goals. You’ve got to have a dream to make a dream come true.”

The Wider Crisis We Can’t Ignore

Shell’s story is deeply personal, but it reflects a much bigger issue — one that’s growing by the day.

School exclusions have increased by over 70% in the last decade, disproportionately affecting children with special educational needs and those from low-income households.
Over 750,000 young people aged 16–24 in the UK are currently NEET — not in education, employment or training.
The youth mental health crisis continues to escalate, with 1 in 5 young people now struggling with a probable mental health condition (NHS, 2023).

These are more than statistics. These are stories. These are lives. These are Shells.

And still — these topics are too often ignored. Brushed under the rug. Dealt with later. Meanwhile, young people continue to fall through the cracks.

Genuine Futures: Real People. Real Change.

At Genuine Futures, we don’t talk at young people — we walk with them. The Boss Your Future programme supports young people aged 15–24 across Bolton, Salford, and Greater Manchester who are not in education, employment or training.

We meet young people where they are, and help them build towards where they want to go. We offer:

Tailored, trauma-informed support
Skills development, mentoring, and real-world experiences
Community involvement and creative outlets
A space led by lived experience, not judgment

And it’s working.

Young people in our programme are launching their own businesses, returning to college, finding employment, and becoming mentors themselves — just like Shell.

We Can’t Do This Alone – Join Us

We are calling out to all like-minded individuals, organisations, businesses, and community leaders:

If you believe in young people,
If you’ve experienced the system from the inside,
If you want to be part of real change —

We want to work with you.

The power of our programme comes from collaboration — from people and organisations who care enough to take action. We’re looking to grow our network, expand our reach, and help more young people across the UK realise their potential.

Together, we can tackle school exclusions, fight youth unemployment, and support those facing mental health struggles — before it’s too late.

Final Word from Shell

“I’ve spent most of my life feeling invisible. But now I feel like I’m part of something — something real. I don’t want to just survive anymore. I want to help others find their reason to keep going. That’s what Genuine Futures is doing for me.”