Supported Lodgings and Fostering Afternoon Tea, Southampton
22 September 2026
Young People Stories
Leah* had been living in a children's home in the south of Hampshire, but had never really felt settled. Her friends and college were all in the north of the county, adding to her sense of isolation.
Step by Step offered her a place in Supported Lodgings. This moved her closer to her support network and would provide the family home environment she had not experienced for a long time.
Before the move, Leah had been struggling with her mental health and had spent periods in hospital. She had felt at her lowest, and needed more than a change of address – she needed somewhere she could feel steady again.
Leah was carefully matched with a compatible host, and the two got on straight away. Her host gave her the time and space to settle in, and Supported Lodgings gave her a home that felt safe and stable from the start.
Over time, the host became someone Leah could properly trust. She felt listened to without judgement, and her host learned to notice when a week was harder than others, when Leah was feeling low or anxious, and to support her through it. Leah felt able to open up about her worries, and her host responded with encouragement and consistent praise.
Leah says it was the friendly, comfortable environment her host created that made the real difference to her mental health. She had a home where she didn't have to explain herself, just be herself.
Leah's story shows that the right home and a supportive figure can make all the difference in a young person’s journey.
*Name changed to respect privacy.
If you have a spare room, and around an hour a day, you can help a young person find a safe place to call home and grow towards independent living.
