Laura* reflects on how she has strengthened her mental health, rebuilt her confidence, and is now focused on studying for her degree and future goals, thanks to support from EveryYouth Healthy:
I’m Laura and I’m 19 years old. Growing up I have always loved acting and taken part in theatre since I was 12 years old. I had to leave home due to domestic abuse.
I lived with a family member before I found myself sofa surfing for a few weeks. During that time I was studying A-Levels at college so I had to balance that alongside not knowing where I was going to sleep each night, which made me very worried. My grades weren’t as good as I wanted them to be.
When I was 17 I found out about my local EveryYouth charity, The Benjamin Foundation, through social services. I applied to stay in their supported accommodation services and was accepted.
Staff were always there to help me if I needed them. They would regularly check in on me and helped me to develop life skills including budgeting, cooking and even how to do laundry. I found this really helpful. They taught me how to live independently.
About a year in I asked to access counselling services, which are provided thanks to EveryYouth Healthy. I found these sessions extremely helpful for my mental health. I first started attending therapy hoping for a quick fix, but soon realised I had to dig deeper to find the root issue instead of shoving things under the rug. I attended many sessions between December and August. It was helpful knowing there wasn’t a time limit and I wasn’t forced to trauma dump before I was ready to. I felt in control of my sessions and only shared what I wanted to. The counsellor never judged me and it was a safe space.
I learned tools to help me spot when I was getting too stressed and anxious. They taught me that it was okay to feel down on some days, and it wasn’t the end of the world. I had a big problem with burnout and learned to feel a lot less guilty taking breaks, and in fact, breaks are important and self-care is needed for me to do my best. I learned to take a breath and do an activity that I love.
Staff also helped me with universal credit applications which meant my bills were covered, and I could continue studying at college while working part time as a waitress. I was able to save a little bit of money and even managed to go on holiday in Tenerife. Budgeting advice I received in supported accommodation helped me keep track of how much I was spending each week and how much income I was getting.
Without the support of EveryYouth and The Benjamin Foundation, I wouldn’t have had the luxury of going to college. I feel very, very lucky.
Staff helped with my application for the Northern School of Arts in Hartlepool, a leading art and design college, and once I got accepted, I was given financial support to cover the cost of moving into student accommodation.
I was worried about leaving supported accommodation and moving so far away but staff made me realise I could do it. I don’t think I would have chosen to study somewhere so far away, and received the education I needed, without their help.
When I first moved in to supported accommodation I had a sad outlook on life but The Benjamin Foundation encouraged me to realise I can achieve whatever I want.
I started a three-year degree in acting in September.
I feel like I have learned more life skills than other students who are just moving out of home for the first time. I know how to cook, do laundry and budget – the basic things to live. This has definitely helped me to settle in a lot quicker and helped me to focus on my studies.
I love acting and hope to become a theatre actor one day. I love the escapism of acting and being able to power my emotions through drama. I find it therapeutic to dig through a character and that feeling when you get onto stage for live performance.
My advice for anyone going through a similar situation is that it will get better. You’re not just homeless, you’re so much more than that. You are a survivor and you will get through it.
Find out more about out EveryYouth Healthy programme.
*Name has been changed.
