Andy had been sleeping rough for six months before our Rough Sleeping team intervened and offered him another chance.
“I was rough sleeping in the streets and it was pretty bad because I didn’t have any help and yeah, I was on my own. I was working in construction but since the pandemic there has been a crisis in the building industry. Everyone was going down, and I lost my job…. A lot of people lost their job in that time. So afterwards, I even lost myself in a way, let’s say.”
“They came to me [Rough Sleeping team], when they arrived, they gave me clothing for the night and offered me dinner. Then, the next day, they were already working on my case. As soon as they discovered me the next day, they found me a place. They helped me a lot.”
Andy is grateful to no longer be on the streets and he feels less stressed as he knows people are working hard to find him somewhere permanent to live.
“I have less stress on myself because I know someone is trying to help and they are doing that. Even the confidence, when you are staying out in the street you don’t have that kind of confidence, you don’t even know if you are smelling. You lose ability to approach other people. But New Horizon are very helpful because you are with a lot of other people around, and they help you out. You have the showers and washing machines. Food every day, cooked food.”
Andy is now living and working at a hostel in London, somewhere he can stay for a few months while he starts his new chapter in life.
Andy has taken part in different activities run by the Youth Work team and made new friends. He has enjoyed the sports offers, getting involved in football, basketball and boxing.
“It’s good. They help us physically because it’s something good to do. Plus, it makes us get on well with each other and have more self-esteem.”
But his favourite moment was the guest Michelin star chef who visited and cooked lunch for the staff and young people, “I had the possibility to cook with him which was very nice and helpful.”
This reminded Andy of his passion for cooking, and when thinking about the next chapter of his life, he said, “I would like to go back to cooking. I have a degree in cooking, plus it’s my passion. I would like to go in a restaurant to be a chef.”
With the help of our Jobs, Education, and Training team, Andy is now attending a cookery school and is doing a placement at a high-end hotel restaurant.
New Horizon Youth Centre is here for any young person, like Andy, who finds themselves pushed into homelessness in London.
With your help, we can give them the chance to realise the next chapter of their lives. Donate now and help open up a New Horizon for young people experiencing homelessness.
New Chance, New Chapter, New Horizon.
*The story is true and quotes are directly from a young person who attends New Horizon Youth Centre, but the name and photo have been changed to protect their identity.
