My Dad started drinking really heavily after my Mum left a few years ago.

I had to look after my little brother all the time. It was really lonely and I didn’t have a life like my friends at school.

We never had any money and I never got to go out and do normal things.

When my Dad got drunk I would get scared and when he didn’t come home, I would worry something really bad would happen.

One day at school I just broke down. I ended up speaking to a teacher about what happened at home.

For a while things didn’t get any better.

My brother got taken into care and I got referred to a children’s panel and got a social worker, Claire.

Claire put me in touch with a youth group for young people who need a bit of support.

At first I was really shy and wasn’t sure about it, but I’ve been coming for about six months now. It’s a really good place and everyone here is going through the same kind of stuff as me.

I like making new friends and we do really good fun stuff like arts and crafts and going trips to the cinema.

Things are much better now. My brother is back at home with us and my Dad’s getting help too.

Claire has been really good to talk to and I talk to her a lot.

Going to the group has helped me understand what’s been happening and that there’s lots of young people in the same position as me.

If you’re feeling like me, don’t bottle it up!