When Mo was pushed into homelessness as a teenager, he approached his local council for help. Mo was referred to New Horizon Youth Centre as the only day centre in London specialising in supporting young people experiencing homelessness.
With dedicated support from our expert Advice Workers navigating a complex housing system, Mo was placed in temporary accommodation, “They helped me by telling me to provide the right documents and all that stuff.”
Mo’s priority was to find somewhere safe to stay, “If you don’t have a place to live, everything’s more stressful.” He needed a new space to call his own.
Now Mo has moved into Supported Accommodation, where there is always a caseworker available to assist with any issues. He says that since he relocated there, he has felt that his mental health has improved and that he is “relaxed, energised, just a place you need with a roof over your head… it’s safe.”
Before stepping through the doors of New Horizon Youth Centre, Mo was shy and didn’t want to open up to anyone. He didn’t know there was more help available than just housing support.
Mo had always liked sports and played football with his friends. “I just never knew New Horizon did such a thing like this, but then when I was told… I just went straight for it.” Now, Mo attends FC Hope sessions weekly. “It helps with my mental health. Just stuff that stresses you, you can just let go.”
Mo is also part of New Horizon’s basketball team, KX Courage and is grateful to our sports youth workers who have helped him find community, make friends and build his confidence; “They’re what I call brothers.”
Although sports are still his favourite activity at New Horizon, Mo has been involved in different workshops and projects, finding ways to tell his story in different ways, and start on a new path.
“Photography was my favourite, the best thing I did out of everything. That was called Snapshots.” Snapshots is a creative photography course for young people affected by homelessness that was run in collaboration with artists at The National Portrait Gallery. “Even though I’ve never done it before, once I saw the camera, I just knew what to do.”
Since coming to New Horizon and participating in sports and creative activities, Mo feels his confidence has grown: “I am on track to being confident. Know what to do and how things work.”
Mo enjoys giving back to his community by volunteering at New Horizon as peer support during ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes and as a peer mentor at Fitzrovia Youth in Action. Volunteering has always been something Mo has wanted to do, and he feels it’s given him the kickstart he needs.
New Horizon Youth Centre is here for any young person, like Mo, who finds themselves pushed into homelessness in London.
With your help, we can give them a new space to start their new story.
Donate now and help open up a New Horizon for young people experiencing homelessness.
New Space, New Story, 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.
