Adam’s story: Centrepoint gave me that safety net

Adam, 20, is currently a member of Centrepoint’s Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) – a group of young people who have been supported by Centrepoint who bring their lived experience to shape policy, events, improve offerings and ensure that young people’s voices are at the heart of every decision made.

After moving into Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme around 18 months ago, he has taken the time to reflect and share his experiences about his journey to and with Centrepoint and what the future might hold for him. 

As a teenager, Adam experienced a breakdown in the relationship with his parents and made the decision to leave the family home and move into a flat with a friend. However, it became clear to them both early on that there was something not right about the place they were renting and that the landlords might be acting illegally, overcharging them both for rent and bills and leaving the property in an unliveable standard. 

However, as two young men, they were forced to take this accommodation due to the lack of options available to them within their income. They would often find mould all over the flat and, like most tenants, would do the right thing in letting the landlords know, asking for it to be fixed in a timely manner. But no matter how much they asked, the landlord never came to even check on the property, and the two were forced to make the most of the home. 

“I stopped speaking to my parents when I was like 17 or 18, when I was going into adulthood, and I decided to leave home. I was living with a mate of mine in an accommodation but this accommodation, because we were both young and not making much and we’d just left home, it was quite shocking. We would pay our bills in cash to the landlord or the people managing the property, and not all that money was going to our bills. And that’s the type of atmosphere it was.” 

Facing barriers to independence

Whilst living in this flat, Adam got the offer of an apprenticeship to begin training as a data technician – something he didn’t know a lot about beforehand but was excited to try his hand at. Once he began his apprenticeship, he saw this as a step towards his goals but that by staying in the flat this might hold him back. He decided to make the difficult decision to find somewhere else to live and held off on renewing his lease whilst he searched.

“And during this time, I got offered the apprenticeship that I was a part of. So, I left home but I was still able to come up in the world but there wasn’t much of a safety net, and I think I thought I’m not going to live in this flat anymore and I’m going to find somewhere else to live – somewhere that’s nicer, that doesn’t scam us.”

He started to look on spare room websites to see if anything suitable was available, within his price range. He found that as a young single man, it was hard to find anywhere where they would feel comfortable with him moving in, leaving him with even fewer options of where to turn. He tried speaking to the council, but as he hadn’t lived in a particular area for long enough, he wasn’t eligible for their support, and they turned him back to the private rental market. 

“Finding a place in London as an 18-year-old, but also not making that much is impossible because you’re not allowed student accommodation and you go from council to council so you can’t get council housing, because you have to live in that council for four years. And any places that would have allowed an 18-year-old to live with them didn’t want a male – I was looking at all of these companies and anyone comfortable with someone younger, didn’t want a male so finding a place was really difficult.”

Whilst he was trying to balance the stress of finding a new home and starting in his apprenticeship, he did not renew his lease and was made to leave his flat. He packed up his belongings and began sofa surfing with friends, going between different places on a weekly, and even daily basis, taking a suitcase to work every day in case he had to sleep somewhere else that night.

“And then I didn’t renew my lease and then I started sofa surfing and going between mate’s accommodations. From week to week or even a day at a time, I would carry around my suitcase – one of my colleagues thought I was travelling quite a lot, like going on holiday, but I wasn’t going on holiday.”

It was this colleague that Adam confided in and explained that his living situation was very different to how it might look on the surface. After hearing about how Adam was struggling with finding a permanent home, they both reached out to the apprenticeship provider to see what support might be available. 

The provider was aware of Centrepoint and the kind of support they might be able to offer to Adam, so they got in touch on his behalf. Before long, Adam had a meeting with an Independent Living Advisor, who interviewed him, and his case was brought to a panel to ensure that this kind of a property was right for him right now. As he had been able to live independently, and was working full time, the Independent Living Programme was an ideal option for him to find a more long-term home. After a few weeks he moved into his new home and has been living there since.

“And then I opened up to him and he helped me to get in contact wit the apprenticeship provider and he started to stir up a storm saying that we have this young person and how are we meant to support him? And then they got in contact with Centrepoint, and I met with Janet, and I did an interview with her and my situation was brought up with the team and they approved it, and I got accepted into the apprentice accommodation.”

Moving to his new home

When he first heard about the accommodation, he wasn’t sure of what to expect from the home and how it might be different to other options out there. After living in unsuitable housing or between friend’s sofas, Adam remembers the feeling of relief as soon as he stepped through the door and put his bag down.

“It was quite a surreal or relieving experience moving into the accommodation, like not having to move on a weekly basis and not having to carry your suitcase everywhere.”

Before moving in, he visited the area, which was completely new to him, trying to get used to his new surroundings and see what the location might be like. He saw lots of families in the area, spending time in the local parks, and immediately felt like this was somewhere that he could live and thrive.

“I felt like I could make it my home. I like going for runs at the weekend and it’s just families there and it’s an area that feels quite nice.”

When he moved in, he quickly made the space feel his own, putting his own touches on the room and making it feel like a home. As someone who enjoys connecting with nature, he was sure to bring in some of the outside inside to add some calm and serenity to his space.

“Plants are so needed in a city full of smoke but it just feels closer to nature so I would say that is what I’ve done the most of to decorate my room.”

Alongside bringing some nature into his space, he’s enjoyed that his block of flats has a garden where he can relax, connect with nature and get to do some exercise, having recently taken up grounded yoga as a way to centre himself and switch off from the world.  

“I like having a garden in London that you can go out in – that’s such a privilege. It was a lot better than I was expecting.”

After being unsure of what to expect from his new home, he’s felt so much more settled and at home than he ever thought he would – really making it feel like it’s his home and somewhere he can grow.

“My room is a lot bigger than I was expecting for it to be charity support. I felt like I could make it my own room, or it feels like my own home that I’m renting. I like having my own fridge as well and it’s a lot better than I was originally expecting it to be in both the area and the accommodation.” 

He’s happy that he’s also been able to make friends with the other young people living in the property, spending time in the kitchen together when they’re cooking. As a sociable person and someone who enjoys bringing people together, for Adam being able to build those connections adds another layer of feeling comfortable in the space.

“On a weekly basis, you’ll run into people when you’re cooking but everyone is a lot more sociable than I was expecting like you can have a conversation with everyone.”

Reflecting on his experiences

Having lived in his home for 18 months, Adam’s taken the time to reflect on his experiences and what his new home has supported him to be able to do. He recognises that when he started his apprenticeship this was the time where he felt he would be taking strides forward but not having that permanent support around him left him with a lot of uncertainty, which could have held him back.

“My situation was different to others because I was still working at the time and I was what you would consider going up in the world, but not having that safety net, well I did have a safety net with friends being able to support me, but not a permanent safety net which I think it makes it quite challenging to live your life and take opportunities and risks.”

After months of unstable housing, having the stability of one place where he can know he can stay long term, has meant that Adam has the physical and mental space he needs to have some much-needed rest and start to plan for the future. 

“I think having this accommodation has allowed me to recharge and rebuild myself because it was quite draining after work, I would get to my mate’s accommodation at like 9pm. And then I would have to make food or buy a meal deal for dinner. So just being able to, I know it sounds weird but buy foods that I can have in my fridge for like 2 weeks, it’s just wow.”

When he left home, he felt that he had lost the safety net that a family is meant to provide and after relying on the support of friends, being able to rely on himself and feel more independent, especially as he entered work, has helped him feel more prepared for what comes next.

“I think Centrepoint gives me that safety net, which I didn’t have from my family. I wouldn’t be where I am without my friends that allowed me to sofa surf and then with Centrepoint who gave me a permanent place.”

He thinks about the difference that living in the Independent Living Programme has been able to provide him with, especially after living in a home where he was paying a huge amount of his salary towards the rent and bills but knowing that it wasn’t a long-term solution. Independent Living Properties have their rent capped at a third of the young person’s salary, which means that they have more left over to save for the future. 

When thinking about his own experience of moving to the property as an apprentice, he has now been able to bulk up his savings and start planning for his future, rather than only the short term. The safety net for Adam not only comes through the support around him, but knowing that he can prepare for any eventuality both financially and mentally, and living at this property has allowed him a place to develop that resilience.

“For me as an example, I was an apprentice, and those salaries aren’t that much to live on in London. So, most of it would go on rent and then the rest on the bus to work and paying for food so you’re not actually saving anything to go on holiday or treat yourself. So, when I moved into Centrepoint accommodation, I was saving more money to build that safety net. And I’ve been on holiday now to Spain.” 

“So, living here helps to build that safety net which is the most important thing that you can experience in the world and do things that you want to. Instead of just surviving, you’re able to thrive because you have that extra amount of savings coming in that you don’t have to focus on what am I going to do in the next week or the next month – it gives you that long term vision.”

After thinking that he wouldn’t be able to stay in the home for longer than a few months, knowing that he can stay there for years if he needs to, means that he can take the time he needs to build himself back up at his own pace. 

“I didn’t imagine that I would be allowed to stay here for more than 3 months or so, but then they said I could stay up to three years which kind of helps you to rebuild yourself.”

Joining the Lived Experience Board

Adam’s been part of Centrepoint’s first Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB), which aims to centre the voices and experiences of young people who have experienced homelessness to ensure that any decisions made are based in what young people need. As the board comes to the end of its first iteration, he’s been grateful to have been a part of something where he feels like he’s made a genuine difference.

He was unsure what to expect from the board when he first joined, especially as he had only known about Centrepoint through the Independent Living Programme. However, the board is open to young people from across Centrepoint, which has meant that he’s been able to hear stories and experiences from young people from not only across the country, but across the world. 

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into at first, but since joining I’ve been able to get to know many people from different parts of Centrepoint. Both beneficiaries and ex-beneficiaries, but then also people within the organisation which has been quite eye-opening. It shows me the scale of what Centrepoint does to support individuals from multiple different backgrounds.” 

“I only knew about independent living because I’ve been a part of that, but there’s also like supported accommodation and emergency support. Seeing the wider scale of what Centrepoint has to offer, I’ve really enjoyed that and being a part of some programmes like working with fundraising and speaking at Sleep Out and some people have done different research opportunities.”

Being able to hear the stories of the other young people in the group, who have all been impacted by homelessness in a different way, has been an eye-opening experience for Adam – extending his empathy and giving him the opportunity to relate to and support those around him better.

“I think being able to hear people’s stories from different backgrounds, both those who have left Centrepoint and those who are currently working with them, like you only have empathy as far as we can see, so it’s opened my eyes to those different perspectives that I didn’t realise happened in the UK. I feel quite fortunate to hear these stories.” 

Being able to have his voice and experiences not only heard but knowing that it will have an impact on the decision making around Centrepoint for Adam has been a really positive opportunity and he feels fortunate to have been selected and been able to shape what the future of Centrepoint might include.  

“The LEAB shows the commitment Centrepoint has to making sure that the voice of the youth is heard. I feel really fortunate to have had this opportunity.”

Planning for his future

Adam currently works in paid marketing for an online furniture retailer, something he’s been doing for just over a year. When applying, he thought that he might need a degree to move into this role, however having completed his apprenticeship this gave him the experience he needed to excel in his role. He’s settled in well to his position, enjoying the opportunity to bring people together and put the skills he learnt working as a data technician to good use.

“I’m very fortunate that they trained me up. I don’t have a degree, and a lot of places now won’t have you if you don’t have a degree. And this role, they said they wanted a degree in science or maths which I didn’t have, so for me they gave me an opportunity which I normally wouldn’t be able to have.”

For Adam, his plans for the future revolve around making sure that he’s happy and able to do the things that he wants. He’s not settled on a career path or a job title, just that he can do the things that he loves and make him feel good.

“I don’t have a title or career path that I can see myself in, but I want to do something that I’m competent at, that gives me confidence, that makes me collaborate with people and to challenge the status quo.”

Adam loves to spend his energy outside, in nature and trying his hand at different activities. Having already completed a marathon, and recently gotten into climbing with a friend, he’s interested in pushing himself and seeing how far that can take him. He also knows that he wants to do something that feels worthwhile and important to him, so has been looking at roles within the army that help him to reach his goals.

“I’ve applied to be a reservist in the army, and I really want to do an Iron Man at one point. My focus for the future is just to make the most that I can out of life.” 

Having had time to think back on his own experiences and what those key moments were for him, he knows it was his courage in speaking out to his colleague that opened new doors and meant he could get the support he needed. He encourages other young people who might be going through something similar to not be afraid to speak out because you never know where it might take you.

“My advice is to speak out. I think with me speaking to my work colleagues about my housing situation led to a lot of conversations about what help I needed but it meant that I could get the necessary support. So, speak out about your situation and find someone that would be willing to support you – find programmes like Centrepoint who can help you.”

We are so proud of Adam in everything he has achieved and for his sheer determination and persistence to reach the life he wants. We can’t wait to see what he does next and wish him every luck for each step of his journey.