Aldershot Open Day
7 March 2026
Young People Stories
Daniel’s life was out of control when he came to Step by Step. The 16 year-old was abusing drugs and involved with gangs. He had arrests for violence and was abusive towards his family.
The fact he was able to turn things around is testament to his hard work and determination, and the transformative support of our Launch service.
Daniel was living in Step by Step supported accommodation, but it was identified that he needed additional, specialist support if he was to progress. He was referred to our Launch service, where he would receive tailored one-to-one guidance and advocacy.
When he first engaged with Launch, Daniel smoked weed constantly, stayed in his room all day and had no motivation. He did not associate with members of the Step by Step team or with other young people.
The Launch support worker helped Daniel identify what he wanted to change in his life, and practical steps he could start to take to get there.
A couple of months later, Daniel had given up drugs and was no longer associating with people he knew would be bad for him. He recognised the pain he had caused those around him and stated that he wanted to make his family proud.
Daniel continued to progress thanks to the Launch support sessions. He completed some work experience, enrolled on a Kings Trust course and applied for college. He was focused on getting as much onto his CV as possible to help him when applying for permanent jobs.
The Launch support worker used the Opportunities Fund to buy Daniel a bike to get to work, and he was very excited about having his own transport.
Daniel is now confidently following a stable path heading towards to a brighter future. His life had been set to take a very different direction before he received vital support from Launch.
Join us at events across the region and take a stand against youth homelessness. From community gatherings to fundraising challenges and partner-led activities, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Discover what’s coming up and find the event that’s right for you.
