Vincenzo completed the Spear Programme in Brighton in June 2024.

I moved to Brighton about eight months ago now by myself, trying to navigate how to be an adult and take life head on.

Education wasn’t really going well for me. I moved to Brighton for a job with a trade company, but sadly went through the experience of not enjoying it at all. It knocked my confidence. I was struggling to get up in the morning and even think I needed a job. At some point I made the change of thinking, ‘I need to get back in the water’. Spear helped – having the option even to go was massive.

My biggest challenge was that I didn’t speak loudly enough to work in retail. I lost my job for not speaking up. Getting up and being seen as confident was a big thing for me, because I feel confident but it doesn’t come across well. It’s been a really big thing [on Spear] being able to practise coming across as confident, and to raise my voice. It’s been really useful having live coaches to bring me up on those things, to have people to guide me on the way.

The people on Spear have been really significant. It’s been absolutely life changing. I live by myself, and it got to a point where being by myself became troubling. I stuck my head up and went to Spear – and there were people going through exactly the same things I was, and I could relate to people. It’s been absolutely priceless. Everyone was so lovely. Seeing other people put themselves forwards, and everyone gaining confidence, has been priceless.

I’m ready for the next bit. I’m ready to get up in the morning, to have a routine. I feel like I’m ready to battle the next day, and see a future. I’m looking forward to doing a college course, going into part-time work. Now I see myself as someone who’s ready to present professionally.

I’m really quite excited. I’m so ready to have a job again. I’m excited to get back into an environment where there’s a team, and know that there’s something to get up for, and it can be work. It’s been an important change of attitude.