A woman from Bury who become the first care leaver to work for a charity that helped her has praised the cause for helping to grow as a young person.

Susie Hadaway was referred to Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) by her care worker when she was aged 19.

It was recommended that she would benefit from attending the charity's sessions.

Now aged 26, Susie has reflected on how much GMYN helped her and how she has enjoyed her time working for the organisation in the last two years.

After the charity received funding for a support role, Susie joined as a sessional worker before taking up her current position as a programme worker.

She credits the charity for her development as a young person and praised it for building her confidence.

Read more: Councillor recalls time racist thugs chased him and family in Bury

Susie said: “Going along to GMYN showed me a different way of life, it took me away from what was going on in my own personal life and I was surrounded by positive people.

“I had never felt so valued and appreciated as a young person before I joined GMYN.”

“There are no barriers to what you can do.

“It is often difficult as a young person to financially support a lot of things you want to do, but GMYN is there to help you with this and so many things suddenly became accessible to me that I’d never had the chance to do before.”

Read more: Lightopia firm goes into administration after closing in Heaton Park

Susie also spoke about her favourite memories as a young person at GMYN, with one being a fishing trip she attended.

She said: “I still remember being photographed holding the fish I had caught and being so happy!”

Another memorable time was when when she hosted GMYN’s celebratory event for its 10th year,

She said: “The event was amazing for my confidence- it was such a big responsibility, but I was really supported by everyone.

“Without GMYN I honestly don’t know what I’d be doing.”

Read more: Bleed kits fitted on Silver Street in Bury to help save lives

Susie has been working with CEO and founder of GMYN, Alex Fairweather, in rolling out more policies for prospective young people the organisation might recruit in the future.

Alex said: “Some members that have been part of GMYN for a long time get involved in various ways once they move on.

“There is always an opportunity to come back and get involved.”

The Manchester-based charity has helped more than 11,000 young people through its journey as a single volunteering project to a registered charity since it was founded in 2007.

Susie is an advocate for young people, and they approach her knowing she can relate to a lot of their situations.

If you have a story tweet @BuryTimes or @Alicegerrard157 or email alice.gerrard@newsquest.co.uk.