“It was important that Amy knew she was valued”
Our Homeless Prevention Service is a safe and inviting space in Sheffield city centre for young people to drop in and talk in confidence. It was here that Paul, a Roundabout Rapid Rehousing Worker, first met Amy.
“Amy was very quiet and reserved, and was unwilling to share much about her situation, but that’s okay and certainly not ununsual.
“Initially, all we want to do is explain who we are and how we can help. We want to let young people know that Roundabout is there for them, and to just break the ice by having a chat over a cup of tea!
“Even setting foot in the Prevention Service is a huge step for a young person, so we just want to reassure them that we’re there to help, and will move at their pace.”
After working with Sheffield City Council to find Amy some emergency accommodation, Paul helped her to move in and then maintained regular contact with her over the next few months.
“I saw Amy around 4 times a week, and regularly spoke to her too inbetween. I attended appointments with her and made sure she had essentials such as food and toiletries. It was important that she knew she was valued, that we cared about her welfare, and that we wanted to help her.
“Life continued as near to normal as possible for us during the pandemic. Not seeing Amy or other vulnerable young people at such a concerning and worrying time could have had detrimental effects.
“We want young people to know that we’re a consistency in their life, after they’ve already experienced so much upheaval, and building a trusting relationship is key to their progress.”
Roundabout provided Amy with a bus pass too, which was vital to encourage the development of her independence. It meant she was able to attend appointments, even if she met Paul there.
Slowly, her confidence grew and over time, she was able to do more and more by herself.
“Moving on to living independently can be quite overwhelming to someone who has experienced so much trauma and upheaval in their lives already, and the entire process can take time,” explains Paul.
“Thankfully, Amy knew she wanted a change so came to us, but sadly, not all young people know about our Prevention Service or feel able to reach out for help. Our dedicated team work in the community searching for young people in need, making sure they know that Roundabout is there for them.”
There are more young people out there just like Amy who need our help. We want to make sure that no young person has to sleep rough in South Yorkshire.
Whether it takes weeks, months or years, we are here – By Their Side – to help young people with even the most complex issues overcome obstacles and support them as they get back on their feet.
Read the next step here, about how Paul and his team build essential trust with the young people – the most important stage of this journey.
In the meantime, to support Roundabout this World Homelessness Day on Saturday 10th October, please consider supporting our campaign or share this story to help to raise awareness of the reality faced by many young people living in South Yorkshire.
