Yahoo News Three people share how much Grimsby charity has helped them as organisation celebrates 25th birthday
Three long-term service users of an incredible Grimsby charity have credited the organisation for helping them to build thriving social lives, teaching them essential life skills and boosting their confidence.
Since 1999, Foresight has provided a huge range of services for people with disabilities and learning difficulties, including an adults' day centre, a children's scheme every half term, social and sporting events, housing, meals on wheels and even the popular Foresight Choir.
A fortnight ago, the charity held a special birthday bash close to its Newmarket Street base, to celebrate 25 years since it was first established.
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Three service users of Foresight - Jack Ratten, Paul Nichols and Jade Laverick - have spoken to Grimsby Live to share their personal transformations and their stories on how much the charity has helped them develop their social lives and life skills over the years.
'It's changed my life'
Jack Ratten, 26, has been using the services at Foresight since he was a child, and joined the adults' day centre when he was in his late teens. He is now a member of the Committee and won the Leadership Beneficary Team Member Award in 2023 at the charity's annual awards ceremony.
He said: "Foresight has helped me develop new skills and make new friends. It's taught me how to talk to people and socialise, and I've learned how to cook and play football and pool. I started off not being able to swim and I've now earned my 50-metre swimming badge. I couldn't play football very well, and I've been able to become a good player.
"I didn't really know how to cook and I've learned how to do that, as well as other life skills. When we're out walking, we're taught how to cross the road safely, and we're taught about fire safety. If we want to meet up with our friends outside of Foresight, we can, because we've built up the social skills to be able to do it.
"I didn't really have a social life before I came to Foresight, and they've helped me to have one. We go to the cinema and to football matches and I've made new friends there, too. It's changed my life."
'It's really boosted my confidence'
Paul Nichols, 45, has been a service user at Foresight for a number of years. He is an active member of the Foresight Choir and also volunteers in the kitchen.
He said: "I love everything about Foresight. It's helped me develop my life skills and make friends. My favourite activities is playing table tennis and watching films - we choose different DVDs to watch. I come to the adults' day centre every day.
"When I first came to Foresight I was really shy, but now I've come out of my shell, and it's really boosted my confidence."
"It's massively helped my confidence. When I joined, I was really shy, and now I've made lots of friends and developed my social skills.
'I've opened up so much'
Jade Laverick, 32, has been attending Foresight for several years, and is now an active member of the Committee. She has credited the charity for helping her to make friends and allowing her to "open up".
She said: "Foresight has helped me a lot since I first started coming here. I've made so many friends. When I come, I enjoy watching movies, and I'm trying to learn how to swim at the moment because I've always struggled with that. I was really quiet when I joined but I've opened up so much since I first came here."
To learn more about Foresight and the charity's incredible work, you can watch a short film that was recently made about the organisation by clicking here.
