“New Horizon has definitely been the most important part of going into my adult life. I wouldn’t be where I am now without New Horizon.”
Izzy*, 21, came through our doors for the first time three years ago.
“I didn’t have a great home life growing up. I was kicked out a lot. I was just in and out of my family home. I ran away to London when I was 16 and moved in with my boyfriend at the time. It [the relationship] lasted about three years, but it was a pretty unhealthy one.”
“I ended up fleeing from the relationship, which meant I was studying at college but completely on the streets. I used up the last of my money and managed to book myself a few hotel rooms, and someone from my college told me about New Horizon.”
Soon after Izzy’s first appointment with our Housing Team, she was placed in an emergency shelter for those fleeing domestic violence.
“I think that without that, I actually have no idea where I would have been because it was the first place I could properly put my head down for a while, which is good.”
During this time, Izzy would visit our day centre every day, participating in workshops and various services.
“I was coming here every day because it’s just a home away from home… You’ve got people around you to support you. It’s really good.”
“I’ve used the Counselling Services, that’s been definitely, extremely helpful… The JET [Jobs, Education and Training] team managed to get me a few interviews and involved in other organisations that have been really good. I mean, I’ve used basically all the services that you can here.”
Since working with our Resettlement service, Izzy has moved into her own studio flat.
“I’ve finally gotten to where I wanted to be when I was 18. And when I first came here, I didn’t think that it would be possible to have my own place, but now I’ve got it and I’m really happy. I’m really, really happy.”
“When you don’t have a place to stay overnight, one of the questions that you have every single day is where am I going to go? Am I going to sleep? What am I going to eat? I think it really takes a toll on your mental health. Having a place has allowed me the opportunity to be able to focus on myself.”
Now Izzy feels she is ready to take the next steps.
“I want to go back to University. Well, I say back, I got in. I got an offer, but it was right as I came to New Horizon and was trying to balance housing and stuff… So I had to put that to the side, but that’s my next step. I want to get back into education, because I’m going to study medicine.”
Izzy feels the most important change she’s experienced since coming to New Horizon is her quality of life.
“I think for me, just my quality of life has changed since I came to New Horizon. Every day doesn’t feel like it’s a chore, which is nice. I’m starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel, which is also really good. And I think it’s important to have a place to call home. I think that’s because it’s your safe space.”
“I think we take for granted our ability to be able to sometimes take a bit of space away from people and wind down. I think that when that gets taken from you, then you realise, actually, how important it is to have even if it’s just a small space, but to be able to say that that space is mine. It’s you know, it’s like the ownership and it gives you pride, feeling human again. It’s almost because I feel like being homeless … can be quite dehumanising.”
When asked what she wished all young people had access to Izzy told us,
“I think there should be more [places like New Horizon Youth Centre]. I think it would be very helpful. If there were more New Horizons around… It’s definitely important for young people to have that place that they know that they can come to and there are people there for them.”
* Name and photo changed to keep our young people safe.
