A single mum told how she turned her life around after starting her own business during lockdown.
Naima Lacerna said she struggled with anxiety and depression after giving birth to her baby girl and going on maternity leave.
The 31-year-old, who lives in Liverpool city centre, said her feelings of isolation were exacerbated by the first lockdown in March 2020, and "I reached a place where I didn’t even feel like myself anymore."
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Naima told the ECHO: "The pandemic was incredibly hard for me mentally, especially as a single mum.
"I was worried about going outside and I couldn’t go to a baby group or socialise with other mums. I suffered from anxiety and depression, and I reached a place where I didn’t even feel like myself anymore.
“I decided I needed to become self-employed so I could choose my own schedule and be available for my daughter when I needed to be.”
During the summer of 2020, Naima decided to get her life "back on track" by pursuing her passion of starting her own business while also juggling life as a single parent.
She signed up to do an enterprise court with The Prince's Trust and launched her business, Closer Consultancy, that September.
Naima said: "I think it got to a point where I said 'you know what I'm going to get everything back on track now'.
"I went to the doctors, I eventually said how I felt and then I started working on the business. It was step by step with both things, making the decision to take control of my narrative I guess, and that's exactly what I did."
As a single mum and without the support of family around her, Naima said she used her savings to start building up her business while her daughter was in bed at night or napping during the day.
Naima used her ten years of experience in business development and sales to launch her agency Closer Consultancy, which has gone from strength to strength since then.
Naima said: "What I do for a lot of companies is I come up with their sales strategy and apply to basically win more business, introduce them to the right people, and get them meetings with their dream customers.
"I do feel like why the Prince's Trust was so good is it gave me that level of accountability that someone actually cared and wanted me to do well. I had a reason to do meetings.
"[The business] is very successful, I have international clients. I have used social media building my social brand, LinkedIn, a lot of online networking, reaching out to people, putting out content and the business is projected this year to make six figures."
Naima said she is able to work between 9-3pm each day now that her daughter is in nursery. She hopes sharing her story will inspire other single mums to also have the confidence to set up their own business.
Naima said: "What I would say makes me so happy is that fact I did it my way and I'm still present as a mum.
"I've never missed out on anything for my daughter, I finish working at 3pm. I might have to do extra bits in the evening but it's not just the money, it's the fact I have control over my life.
"I do think as a single mum you need that. Of course you need a decent income but also you need a life that is not driving you to exhaustion.
"I want to let any young or single mums know it is possible to start a business and go for your dreams, even when you don’t have support around you.
"No matter where you find yourself or how much you think you can’t change your life around, it really is never too late.”
The Prince’s Trust NatWest Youth Index, carried out by YouGov and released this week, found the happiness and confidence of 16 to 25-year-olds has hit the lowest point in its thirteen-year history.
The report, which surveyed 2,106 16 to 25-year-olds across the UK, found that a third of young people in Merseyside agree they will never recover from the emotional impact of the pandemic.
In response to the survey, 44 per cent of young people in Merseyside reported experiencing a mental health problem, almost half (48 per cent) said the pandemic has made their mental health worse, and 40 per cent agree they are more anxious now.
Kelly Crawford, Head of Service Delivery for the North West at The Prince’s Trust, said: “The pandemic will be a scar for life on young people in Merseyside, unless we act now.
"This alarming downward spiral of anxiety, stress and lack of confidence for the future will impact young people today and in future generations, while widening the gap for the most disadvantaged.
"With the right support from businesses, government and charities we can turn this around and ensure young people have the right skills and confidence to feel positive about their future work, and about their life overall.
Kelly Crawford added: “At The Prince’s Trust, we are resolute in empowering all young people with the confidence, support, training and employment opportunities they deserve to succeed in their futures.
"From experience, we know how transformational the right support can be to a young person in need of help and together we can prevent the threats of today’s report becoming a reality.”
