Vulnerable youths assured an open door
ALDERSHOT-BASED youth charity Step by Step, which supports hundreds of vulnerable young people each year, is raising money to prevent homelessness over the Christmas period and beyond.
Last year, its appeal raised more than £70,000.
The charity said every year in the UK, thousands of young people find themselves homeless, often through family breakdown, escaping abuse or leaving care with nowhere else to go.
Christmas is an especially tough time for a young person to be homeless, with reminders everywhere of the families and celebrations they cannot be a part of.
Step by Step is working to remedy this situation. The charity supports young people aged 11 to 25, offering accommodation, mental health support and wellbeing services to those most in need.
Each year it helps more than 1,300 young people, and last year this included 19 year-old Stevie.
Stevie became homeless after fleeing emotional abuse. Step by Step was able to offer her a stable, caring home, and a Christmas without the usual conflict and fear.
She said: “My first Christmas at Step by Step, I just sat there and soaked in the atmosphere. I couldn’t believe this was my life now.”
To help more young people like Stevie, Step by Step has launched its Open Doors Christmas appeal. This asks for donations from the public to help fund its essential services, not just over the festive period but throughout the year.
Debbie Moreton, Step by Step’s chief executive, said: “Our Open Doors appeal makes a genuine difference to some of the most vulnerable young people in our community. It’s truly touching to see these young people enjoying themselves at Christmas, especially knowing what the alternative might have been.”
If you would like to support Step by Step and donate to the Open Doors appeal, visit www.stepbystep. org.uk/opendoors