Young People Stories
Following a breakdown in family relationships, 17 year-old Naomi* was struggling with her wellbeing and unsure where she could turn for support. Her life felt unsettled and uncertain, and she had withdrawn from college as a result.
Step by Step’s Launch service is available for all young people aged 11-25, offering free, one-to-one support on a range of issues. For Naomi, it provided the tailored support she had not been able to get elsewhere.
Naomi felt isolated and lacked the confidence to plan her future when she first engaged with our Launch team. She was given a dedicated Support Worker who was able to offer both emotional support and clear, consistent guidance. Naomi shared that she often felt other services came and went as her circumstances changed, leaving her feeling unsupported at key moments.
Naomi described her Launch Support Worker as her “rock” during a period when everything else felt uncertain – a consistent presence she could rely on, even when other services had closed her case. This stability helped her to build trust, engage more openly, and begin moving forward at her own pace.
When Naomi turned 18, she moved into Step by Step’s Supported Accommodation. Not only did this give her a safe, stable environment to call home, it meant that her wellbeing support and one-to-one guidance would remain in place.
Naomi has since made significant progress. She has reconnected with her hobbies and begun forming new friendships, both of which have had a positive impact on her confidence and sense of belonging.
Naomi is now thriving and feels more hopeful about her future. Her journey demonstrates the importance of consistent and tailored support – and the integral role of Step by Step’s unique Launch service in the community.
*Name changed to respect privacy
We welcome the PM's announcement. The funding matters, the urgency matters, and a government willing to say plainly that no one should sleep in a doorway is good news.
But if we are serious about ending rough sleeping, we cannot only wait until someone is already on the streets. We have to stop them getting there in the first place.
