“It made me feel a lot better about myself, a lot more capable,” they added.
James had felt “lost and aimless” after finishing a university degree at home during the Covid-19 pandemic and then struggled to find work for about two years.
However, following the autism diagnosis and a move to London, they secured a job in employment support with the St Giles Trust.
“I saw all the opportunities people had in London, whether that was work placements or whether it was just jobs in general, and it made me think about what was available back home,” James told the BBC’s Politics North show.
Since returning north to join the Warren earlier this year, James has been working with young people facing a variety of issues.
“For some it’s about looking at apprenticeships or college, for others it’s about getting a job to earn some money,” they said.
“We also see other barriers such as mental health, substance use, someone facing homelessness and sometimes debt.”