Family problems could have left Mohammet Kaya homeless on the streets of a strange city…but then he was put in touch with Roundabout.
Mohammet grew up in London but decided to move north when domestic tensions started to grow.
“I used to live with my brother in London but we weren’t getting along and it got to the point where I couldn’t do it any more,” he says.
“The only other family I had in the UK was an uncle who lived in Sheffield so I came to his house for a while and stayed for two or three months but it got to the point where I couldn’t deal with it because there were problems.
“That’s when I called Sheffield Council and they referred me to Roundabout and their Future Builders programme co-ordinator Raymond Anderson.”
Roundabout’s Future Builders project is an opportunity for young people who have a need for housing to work alongside professional contractors to renovate neglected houses, which they then live in whilst they study for an apprenticeship.
The young people help to refurbish and renovate Roundabout properties, which they then also have the chance to live in themselves.
The scheme address the lack of appropriate move-on options for young people who are reaching the end of their homelessness pathway and have already perhaps made use of Roundabout’s other services.
But equally importantly, it’s about getting young people the experience of working alongside professionals, getting them into a working frame of mind and supporting and encouraging them towards finding regular employment, wither in construction or in some other field.
“I am so appreciative of what Roundabout and Raymond offered me when I needed help the most,” says Mohammet.
“Raymond was always available to help me at any point and even when I moved on from a Roundabout property, Roundabout helped me to furnish my new home.
“Raymond even helped me with the process of getting my own place by helping me with all the paperwork.
“Homelessness had been a real possibility for me but Roundabout gave me a chance – if there was no Roundabout I don’t know where where I would be now.”
As it is, at 20 years old Mohammet now has his own apartment in his adopted city and he is in the final stages of qualifying to become an HGV driver – again it was Raymond who gave him the information he needed to begin that journey.
“I like doing stuff for myself but I do know that I can turn to Roundabout if I need to,” Mohammet says.
“It’s good to know that I have that support – even though I hope I won’t need it again.”