Case study: Ollie

How Ollie went from experiencing homelessness to joining a top university

When Ollie became homeless, he moved into a supported housing scheme for young people. In this blog, he describes how we helped him get back on his feet and continue his education.

“If you’d told me in April last year that I’d now be off to a top UK university, I’d be in disbelief.

“I went from being forced out of my home to living in a single room with two others and sharing a bed head-to-toe. All while trying to keep up my grades at Sixth Form.

“At that point, my position was unsustainable. Had I not got the opportunity to live in supported housing, the past year may well have been very different.

“But thanks to the independence and living space Rose Court gave me, I was enabled to clear my mental health issues and focus on my A-Levels.

“Eventually, I landed an offer at Cambridge University and another top university. On results day, I missed out on the Cambridge offer by just two marks but still received very high grades in A*AA, so I got into my second-choice university.

“Without being cliché, had I not been in supported housing from June 2022, I would never be in this situation. But here I am, now off to live and study somewhere new.

“Supported housing gave me the financial and emotional stability, focus and independence I needed to go on to get good grades in school, which have now set me on a far better path than before.

“Many thanks go to the support team who have provided such great practical and emotional support over the past 15 months.”

We provide one-to-one support and specialist housing for vulnerable young people aged 16 to 25. We help them gain independent living skills, confidence and wellbeing.

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