Jasmine’s Story: Building Confidence and Finding Community

When Jasmine* was first referred to Social Prescribing by her GP, she was facing several challenges. She was experiencing anger, anxiety, low mood, and low self-esteem, alongside difficulties both at home and at school. She wasn’t attending school, wasn’t socialising, and wasn’t taking part in any activities, which meant she was rarely leaving the house at all. 

We arranged for her to meet with our Social Prescribing Link Worker at a local GP practice to introduce herself and learn more about our support at Door 43. At the time, even leaving the house felt like a huge step for her, and the session had to be rearranged several times but eventually, they met for the first time. 

From that point on, Jasmine attended every session. She opened up about her experiences of bullying at school and how isolated she often felt as a young Black woman living in a predominantly white community. These conversations also gave space for her mum, who joined the sessions at first, to share some of her own experiences growing up and raising a family in the same community. For both Jasmine and her mum, being able to speak honestly about their experiences was healing. 

Together, they began exploring groups and spaces where Jasmine might feel more included and empowered. Jasmine and her mum started attending a predominantly Black church, and Jasmine even entered herself into a beauty pageant specifically for young Black women – a bold and exciting step. Alongside this, Jasmine and her Link Worker began looking into local dance, acting, and youth groups to find somewhere she felt most comfortable and connected. 

During their sessions, Jasmine spoke with pride about her Jamaican heritage, which became a meaningful part of their work together, from confidence-building activities to self-care routines that felt personal and culturally relevant. Together, they created a daily routine to bring structure and purpose to her days, which also supported her sleep and general wellbeing while she was out of school. 

Five months later, with just one session to go, Jasmine is not only attending school again, she’s also going dancing every week, starting an acting class soon, and continuing to take ownership of her wellbeing through self-care and structured routines. She has found her community. 

Jasmine’s journey, like so many others, shows how community connection, cultural understanding, and personalised support can make a real difference to your wellbeing. If you’re feeling isolated, come and speak to our Social Prescribing team today. We can help you to feel seen, empowered, and hopeful again. 

*Name changed for anonymity.