In a nutshell, what do you do?
I work in the Outreach Team, supporting 18- to 24-year-old care leavers with their housing related needs.
What appealed to you most about joining hyh?
hyh are a small but well-known charity and I was drawn to working with them because of the holistic approach they take when working with young people. They are also renowned for their amazing team spirit, which I found to be true!
What is the most challenging part of what you do?
I feel that the most challenging part of my job is getting our service users the support they need from external agencies, particularly mental health support. The funding does not match the desperate need for our vulnerable young people.
What is the most rewarding thing?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing my service users grow in confidence and feeling empowered by learning that with some support they can achieve what they want and need to. I am grateful for making even the smallest positive change to a young person's life.
Your hopes and dreams…if you could wave a magic wand - what would you hope to achieve whilst working at hyh?
If I could wave a magic wand and make a wish, it would be that mental health services were completely reformed, and adequate care could be given to all young people. Poor mental health is at the root of most of our service users’ issues and for them to be able to access the help that they need would be life-changing for them. But I am aware that would take a magic wand.