Spinnaker Tower Abseil, Portsmouth
11 July 2026
News
Supported Lodgings host Debbie has won a Hampshire High Sheriff’s Award for her contribution to the community.
The awards recognise volunteers who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference. In Debbie’s case, she was recognised for her selflessness and compassion in helping dozens of young people facing homelessness.
As a host for Step by Step’s Supported Lodgings service, Debbie has offered a safe place to live and a supportive environment to over 50 young people. She has given them a chance to escape homelessness and move on to pursue their aspirations. Many of the young people she supported have stayed in touch.
Kelly Headen, Head of Supported Lodgings and Fostering, commented: “We are so proud of Debbie and so pleased for her amazing work to be recognised in this way. She has been absolutely fantastic over the years, always going the extra mile in the support and care she has given.”
Debbie and other members of the Supported Lodgings team attended the awards ceremony in Winchester and met Lady Edwina Grosvenor, the High Sheriff of Hampshire. We hope Debbie won’t mind us sharing that she was quite emotional to receive the award and characteristically modest.
We are proud to announce the opening of our new move-on property in Bedhampton. This home will support up to four young people aged 18 and over, many of whom might otherwise be left waiting on housing lists, homeless, or relying on a friend’s sofa.
The Bedhampton property is the third Step by Step move-on home – a unique accommodation model for young people ready to move on with their lives but with no viable housing options available to them.
