I have found over the years the homeless situation in this country disturbing. Many young people have found themselves on the streets for many different reasons each one has a different story.Although there may be a pre-conception from the public at large that the story is the same for many. when entering into conversation with street people each one is very different, loss of job and getting into debt as they had no savings, relationship break-up, no family locally to help, and yes some are drug and alcohol related and I find that they are very honest about this I also met a lad that the family could cope with no more although it was evident that he had learning difficulties.
Having worked in Milton Keynes College I saw young people coming in finding themselves sofa surfing and desperate, with money, food or proper shelter. we did our best to refer to organisations that may be able to help and give them food vouchers.This did not lead to conducive learning as a basic need was not being met,which then has an impact on them achieving their chosen path and a bigger impact on achievement and funding for the college.
I retrained in Cognitive Hypnotherapy as way of assisting the younger generation work through some of the issues that lead them into a path of self destruction and despair. This is a solution focused therapy using techniques that aid the client to experience their world in a different way. For them to see themselves as having challenges to overcome to achieve their goals to a better future instead of being victims of their past/present.
The YMCA has helped many young people change direction by giving them somewhere to sleep,food and structure where they had none with a range of activities and tools to develop core skills which can enable them to get jobs,homes and a family. This has included ex college students. It is a charitable organisation that relies on donations from local people to enable them to offer these facilities.
