Anchorage support helps D to independence

We want to end youth homelessness. Each night we give a safe home and support to up to 180 vulnerable young people in Norfolk and Suffolk. This equates to 50,000 safe nights every year. We also help them to learn essential life skills, such as shopping, cooking and managing money and support their careers aspirations so they can eventually go on to forge successful independent lives.

Anchorage is one of our housing services for young people in Great Yarmouth. We work with the private landlord sector to provide safe and affordable accommodation, and to offer more opportunities to help young people move confidently along their journey to independence.

D moved into an Anchorage house in January 2019. He settled in straight away and was very good at meeting up with his support workers and asking for advice when he needed it. Sometimes life could get a bit complicated for him but he was always really good at recognising this and coming to ask for help when he needed it.

When at the Anchorage house D really was a great resident; he was always respectful and kind to staff and his other residents.   He would always make sure his room was clean and tidy on a room check day!

D has actively been involved in charity work that took him overseas for projects. He enjoyed this – it was a great confidence boost and he got to meet so many other people. It was a great experience for him. He also has many interests and hobbies – one was fashion and design, and during lockdown he applied for the funding through The Benjamin Foundation for some air paints so he could customise trainers and t-shirts. Creative outlets such as this, helped many through the difficult periods during lockdowns.

We were also able to support him learning independence skills such a washing and cooking. Him and his Support Worker, Nicky made some great meals together!

D was always actively seeking employment and found himself summer jobs to keep him busy.  Just before he left the Anchorage service, he secured himself a full-time job in a sports shop, which was great timing as he was then offered a council flat. This meant he was in a great position to afford this, and we were pleased to help him with all the paperwork regarding taking on the flat and updating his benefits. He was also able to access rent deposit help from End Youth Homelessness to pay the deposit, and his Support Worker helped him to claim other Government grants available to purchase white goods for his flat.

We are thrilled that D has progressed so well. He knows where we are and he still gets to pop in at times to see us for a chat or advice.

If you would like to make a one-off or a regular donation to help more young people in Norfolk and Suffolk like D, please visit https://benjaminfoundation.co.uk/donate/