True stories can be the hardest to tell.

Daniel was seven when life began to unravel. His family struggled to make ends meet—he noticed in small ways: worn clothes, missed school trips, going to bed hungry. At school, he felt different and alone. By nine, tragedy struck: his Mam died after a short battle with cancer. His Dad, lost in grief, withdrew. Daniel bottled up his pain. By secondary school, sadness turned to anger. He skipped classes, fell behind, and believed struggle was his future. At 14, he felt completely lost.

That’s when Barnardos stepped in.

At first, Daniel resisted. But his project worker, Sarah, listened without judgment. Through trauma-informed support, Daniel began to process his grief and rebuild trust. His Dad received help too, repairing their bond.

Barnardos provided practical support; help with schoolwork and a safe space to just be a teenager. Slowly, Daniel re-engaged with school, reconnected with friends, and rediscovered football. Most importantly, he started to believe in his future.

Because of people like you, Daniel’s story changed.

Because childhood lasts a lifetime. (Names and details have been changed to protect identities. Photos are models.)