A YOUNG woman from Saltcoats has spoken out about how a local youth group has changed her life after years of insecurity and bullying.  Colette Paterson, 22, has turned her life around since she became homeless at the age of 18.

Now she wants to assure others in a similar situation that there is always something that can be done.  Colette spoke candidly about how her life was difficult growing up and how she has managed to turn things around.  She said: “When I was 14 on a Tuesday night I would hang about outside near Kilwinning Academy with a group of teens my age.

"We would put our money together and buy drink and cigarettes.

"It was the only thing I looked forward to during the week.  “There was a local youth group on the corner of the street.

"I was invited in a few times but for some reason always said no.  “At school I was given the opportunity to write about local places in Kilwinning. I met up with Mark and Denise who ran the local youth group for it to be advertised in our school magazine – they told me about what they do at the youth group, opportunities young people have been given and upcoming events.

"I wanted to be a part of it, I wanted to make new friends and I wanted to know more.” Colette has been taking part in a number of outdoor activities through her youth group and has managed to lose an amazing four stone in the process which has helped her confidence.

The travel agent added: “I was always overweight as far back as I could remember.

"I attended three different primary schools and was bullied every day also as far back as I could remember.

"I never stood up for myself and began to accept that I would never make something of myself and that I would never feel a sense of belonging.

"This carried on through to my teens and started turning to looking and turning to several things for a sense of security.  “I became hooked in at my local youth group and saw my life change dramatically.

"I attended my first youth camp in 2009 when I was 16 and experience kayaking, abseiling, gorge walking, zip wiring etc.

“At 18 I became homeless and instead of going to a youth hostel for six months I was given somewhere to stay by different people at my church.

"I was shown how to cook, to clean, to become confident in myself and given wisdom on how to get my own flat.

“In 2012, I weighed 18 stone, our church started a hill walking group and I decided to go.

"I climbed my first Munro at 18 stone.

"I struggled, it challenged me... but it challenged me to change and have been invited to every walk since.”  In three short years, Colette has managed to turn things around and has a full-time job, her own house and a passion for helping others.  She said: “It is now 2015, I have had my own house for over four years.

"I have lost over four stone, have been to over five youth camps, recently joined as a Gold member of Duke of Edinburgh and I am just back from a practice expedition where we walked around 12 miles for four days with 20kgs on our back.

"I have such a love for the outdoors especially hill walking and I have climbed Goatfell in Arran five times alone.

“I am working in travel which is my dream job and most of all, have a passion to reach out and inspire and motivate young people.

"I want to let you know that there is more to life than your current circumstances – change isn’t easy but there is always a purpose for it!  “That winners never quit and quitters never win and that if you want something you’ve never had you need to do something you have never done.

“Young people, your best has yet to come.” Colette knows that she wouldn’t have made it without help from a number of people.

She added: “I would like to thank Mark and Denise Fraser, youth pastors of the Bridge church, for all the support and opportunities they have ever given me.

"I would like to thank May Smith for all she has done for me – she has been a great role model in my life, a great mother, wife and businesswoman and a special mention to our the young people in our youth group.

"You encourage and inspire me every day.

“I would also like to thank Fraser and Julie McCallum at Frasers Travel for giving me to opportunity to work for them.” If you want to get involved, you can do so by attending Duke Of Edinburgh meetings at 2 Dalry Road, Kilwinning on a Monday evening, Bridge Church at 11am every Sunday morning (www.bridge-church.com) and Sunday Night Church, 6-8pm at 2 Dalry Road, Kilwinning.