Naomi Bailey

October Award

Naomi works as an outreach worker for @yourspace in Wrexham.
Naomi had always wanted to work with young people with autism as when she was younger her brother was diagnosed with autism, ADHD and was partially deaf. She tells us that the struggles her mum went through were ridiculous, but she supported her in every way she could.
Naomi now has two children of her own, Jay, age 10 and Ivy age 6. As her son grew up it became clear that he had similar traits to her brother. Naomi went through the same struggles she did daily, most days crying because she didn’t know what to do. 
Last year her son finally received his diagnosis and since then it’s been a whirlwind. Although they struggle with everyday basic things, Naomi tells us she wouldn’t want her life any other way. In November last year they went to a play centre and Naomi tells us, “ my son had an absolute meltdown and it was clear that this wasn’t the place for him. So as any parent would, I searched for a place he could go and be himself, that’s where I came across Your Space. Registering my son and later becoming a volunteer was like a dream come true!”
A member of staff said to Naomi, “we’re never letting you go” and she was right as in January she got offered the job as outreach worker.
Naomi helps families every day, who have the same struggles that she goes through. She tells us that her son Jay went to a holiday club for the first time and came home and said, “mummy I love Your Space, they are people just like me, not going to lie, this made me cry”.
“I also attend one of our clubs as an activity worker, being new to this was scary, as young people don’t do well with new people, but I was wrong, I met the most wonderful group of young people. Having a bond with and making an impact on these young people’s lives makes me so proud. They deserve the world, if I could give it to them, I would! The bonds I have made with some of the young people at Your Space will stay with me forever.”
Well done, Naomi, you are an inspiration!