STORIES

A new start, built online  When Mia* (*name changed for privacy) first joined Reboot, she had recently moved to Warrington from Bristol. Support began virtually through 1:1 video calls, but from the outset Mia was highly engaged and brought real energy to sessions.  At the time, Mia was experiencing significant anxiety, particularly around her health, alongside moments of disassociation.

Iris has been part of 1625 Independent People for quite some time, getting involved across a wide range of projects and using her voice to speak up for other young people. A passionate advocate and spokesperson, she brings honesty, insight and lived experience to conversations about youth homelessness and the care system.  Behind that confidence is a

Mulugeta’s Journey: From Survival to Supporting Others  When Mulugeta arrived in the UK in 2022, he was just 15 years old.  He had fled cultural conflict in East Africa after both of his parents were killed. His journey to safety took him across Libya, Italy and France, and involved multiple traumatic experiences along the way.  When he finally

Jamal’s Journey: Building a Future Through Skill and Determination  Jamal’s dream has always been clear: to work as a plasterer.  When Jamal arrived in the UK from Sudan at the age of 17, he was fleeing conflict in his home country. Despite the challenges he faced, he brought with him valuable experience in outdoor rendering

Avery has been involved with 1625 Independent People for the last 15 months. She first came to us at 18 years old due to break down at home and the need for emergency accommodation, and has been working with our teams ever since to build stability, confidence and independence.  While living in one of our

Lauren’s Story: Finding Hope and Independence  Trigger Warning  At Lauren’s request, we are including a warning that this story mentions mental health challenges, self-harm, and suicide. If you find these topics distressing, please consider whether to continue reading and ensure you have support available. Support information is provided at the end of the story.  Early

*Stock image used Helena’s Journey with the Kingsley Hall Heritage Project  At 1625 Independent People, young people are at the heart of shaping our Kingsley Hall Heritage Project. Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are transforming our Grade II* listed building into a vibrant community hub, with training opportunities, affordable homes,

Alex* first came to 1625 at the age of 20, after experiencing homelessness due to difficult family circumstances. Working late nights while living at home created a challenging environment, and after repeated disagreements, Alex had no choice but to leave. Initially sofa-surfing and even living in a car, the situation eventually became unsustainable. A brief

Katie* has been in care since a young age and has an extensive history of childhood trauma. When she first came to 1625 earlier this year, she was not in education or employment and struggled with budgeting and her mental health. She suffered from depression and self-harmed due to a challenging relationship with her mother.

Olivia* is a young person who had a life-changing experience with 1625. When she first came to the 1625, she was shy and anxious, avoiding interactions with her support worker, Emma. She was a single parent, taking care of her child alone. Emma persisted in offering Olivai support, recognising her potential. As a result,  her

What was the presenting issue? Afshin (not his real name) was referred to 1625ip by social services as he had arrived in the county as a part of the National transfer scheme and was placed in foster care.  Afshin was 17 years old and appeared to be overwhelmed and uncertain by what was happening to

What was the presenting issue? The presenting issues Max had was around a lack of routine in his life. Max had moved around a lot in his early life due to being in care and eventually when he had his own space in supported accommodation he fell into a habit of sleeping very late and

What was the presenting issue? Reese was referred to Reboot 2 in late 2021. Reese has learning needs and requires day-to-day support, although he is an independent and confident young person. He was working as a kitchen porter in a care home on the weekends with some shifts during the week, but as his passion

What was the presenting issue? It was identified that Project Grapevine would benefit from more confident and experienced members of the IPA attending. The design of the project depended on young people coming together and connecting but it was approaching those who had been isolated and were perhaps nervous coming out for the first time,

  What was the presenting issue? Charlie came to SGH after his parents asked him to leave due to caring responsibilities that caused pressures within the family home, which meant he was not able to contribute to the household income. Charlie then spent time in emergency accommodations and crash pads. Charlie was a full-time carer