News
Step by Step resident Kyleigh has shared her story with newspaper and website i-News. She bravely spoke of her experiences in care, the support she has since received, and how she has gained the confidence to find her voice.
i-News teamed up with End Youth Homelessness, a coalition of like-minded charities of which Step by Step are part, to raise money for young people facing homelessness. When we were approached to share a young person’s story, Kyleigh bravely stepped up.
Kyleigh found herself in the care system at the age of four. She lived in many places but most of them did not work out and she never really felt settled.
“I didn’t really have that much support when I was younger,” Kyleigh told the paper. “I just think there weren’t people in my life to help me more. I think some of the places I was in didn’t work out for me because they couldn’t quite handle my mental health.”
After leaving the care system, Kyleigh had nowhere to go. Fortunately, Step by Step was able to offer her a place in shared accommodation. This gave her the chance to live alongside young people her own age, and often from similar backgrounds, while receiving the support she needed to work towards her goals.
“For the first time, I feel that people are really listening to me,” Kyleigh explained. “I am not very good at expressing myself and talking about my life. But I have been encouraged in a good way and feel safe enough to express my feelings without shutting down and I am now trying harder to allow other people into my life to help with the stresses and stuff.”
Kyleigh is interested in working with children and studied childcare at college. She is currently a volunteer youth worker and dreams of becoming a nanny. For the first time, these ambitions seem achievable and she puts this down to the tailored support she has received from Step by Step.
“I like so many things about living here. It’s such a lovely place and there’s a lot of fun. The staff will play games and do activities or cook with us. It feels like more of a home than a place where you live.”
We are so proud of Kyleigh for having the confidence to come forward and share her story. We know she has a positive future ahead of her and we can’t wait to see what she will achieve next.
Step by Step’s Supported Lodgings has become the first service of its kind to achieve Ofsted accreditation. We are now the largest Supported Lodgings provider in the UK, as well as being considered the authority in the field.
