Young people's success stories.

Jessica first went into care when she was ten for just under a year. She wasn’t happy when she returned home to be with her family and so she ran away when she was 14. However, social services wanted her to stay at home with her family and would not offer her further fostering arrangements, so she ran away.  Jessica stayed with friends where possible to avoid having to sleep on the streets, but on the odd occasion she had no choice but to sleep rough.

Jessica says: 'I was so lonely; I really felt all alone and there wasn’t really anyone there for me. I was able to stay at my friends houses now and again but I couldn’t stay to long as I didn’t want to out stay my welcome. I know that I put myself in dangerous situations on a number of occasions, but I had no choice, it was what I needed to do to survive.'

Jessica was then placed into supported lodgings by the local authority, however the placement fell through and the only place for Jessica to go was a homeless hostel where she stayed for nine months.

'It was so difficult living at the hostel. You live with 20 other people and you don’t have much room or privacy. There were so many arguments as there are too many people living in such an enclosed space. I didn’t feel that safe there, I was miserable but there was nowhere else for me to go.'

The Local Authority then referred Jessica to the Action for Children Youth Reach in Derby. The staff at the project helped find Jessica a safe and secure flat that she could live in, where she would be safe and able to have a good start to her adult life.

'The project was great. They offered me so much support and advice, whenever I was lonely I could just call the service and someone there would help me or just listen to me, as that is what I needed. They helped me decide what I wanted to do with my life and what path I wanted to take. I don’t know what I would do without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.'

Jessica has now moved into her own apartment with her partner and is working successfully as a care assistant.