“They made me want to give back to society and I realised that I could”
Leah Diamond is 18, and mum to 17-month-old baby Louise.
She attended the Young Mothers’ Unit (YMU) at Menzieshill High, Dundee.
“Finding out I was pregnant was such a scary time for me,” she says.
“I didn’t have my mum at the time, and I was just lost. I didn’t even think I’d be able to continue my education.”
Before she moved from her previous school to the YMU, Leah says she faced a hard time.
“Some of the teachers at my old school weren’t great. They were judging.
“But the teachers at the YMU and Menzieshill were so understanding.”
Leah admits that, before she had Louise, she didn’t really have a clue about being a mother.
“I know being a mum is a huge responsibility. I had no experience of babies,” she says.
“The YMU didn’t just allow me to continue my education, it taught me about being a parent practical stuff like feeding, how to actually care for my baby.
“The staff there really do care and they really do help the girls attending to give their babies the best start.”
Leah says the unit changed her. “They made me want to give back to society and I realised that I could,” she says.
“I don’t want to spend my life on benefits. I’m applying to do nursing.”
Leah would admit becoming pregnant at 16 wasn’t ideal. But she believes the YMU gave her opportunities.
“I can’t believe they want to restructure it and get rid of Mrs Seith. It gives girls like me a chance, an opportunity to make something of ourselves.”
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