Jaden’s story

Jaden, 19, came to one of Single Homeless Project’s hostels for young people in South East London looking for peace and a chance to focus on the future. After spending some of his teenage years in foster care in London, Jaden experienced two years of sofa surfing and living on the streets of Birmingham. Now, with our support, he is looking forward to beginning a career in construction and has his sights set on a peaceful life in the countryside.

After a stressful time at home with his parents and a stint in an emergency care home, Jaden was moved into several different foster homes in his teens. But things weren’t right. At 17, he left for Birmingham to stay with a friend.

“I didn’t like the care home I was in or the situation that was going on. Everything was building up, and I thought enough is enough. I needed to find somewhere better. I decided to take myself out of it, not thinking about how much backlash I’d get from it.”

Lost and looking

Jaden lost contact with his social worker because he had no phone. He tried to get hold of his birth certificate so he could get Universal Credit, but his parents and old foster carers refused to give his personal information to him. Jaden was stuck.

“I spent two years sofa surfing and living on the streets. Being on the street isn’t a nice thing. It’s tough, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. People think it is just staying out for the night. It’s not. People out there can be scary, and the things you see can leave scars on your mind. But each day I woke up and put a smile on my face. Not a real smile, but I just pushed on through. It was a daily mental battle. I walked for three to four hours every day, just listening to music. It’s like a peaceful place when I’m doing that.

“I didn’t have friends. I had acquaintances. And the places I stayed in were full of people doing drugs. It was hell. I had no community. After an argument with my girlfriend, I had to leave, but I had nowhere to go. I could have just sat on the street and let it bring me down. But I walked all over Birmingham, trying different organisations I thought could help me. Luckily, a volunteer stepped up, got me in touch with my old social worker, and I came back to London.”

A door opens

Jaden moved into our young people’s service within two days of returning to London, and he is so motivated and positive about the future now. Our service works hard to build a sense of safety, warmth, and community for our young people by being consistent, friendly, and open.

“After everything I’ve witnessed and been through, I want to get on the right track and get somewhere with my life.”

“Everything before was just a big setback, stopping me from achieving my main goal. I’ve cut out all of the bad parts in my life, like friends that held me back, I’m quitting smoking, and I’m going to the gym. I went to a job fair that Single Homeless Project put on and signed up for courses. I want to work in construction and landscaping. Working in nature, I would love. I want to live somewhere nice and peaceful in a field in the countryside.

“If I had to give someone homeless like me some advice, I’d say: Don’t get caught up in something that will bring you down. Life is one path, and everything else, all these bad people and acquaintances, are just side paths stopping you from where you really want to be in life. Just cross those side paths off and focus on the main path.”

Standing beside young people

Our Achieving Potential programmes are designed to help young people explore their interests, develop their skills, and choose the right careers.

Jaden is a perfect example – he seizes every opportunity with both hands and builds his future with a clear goal. With the right support, guidance, and determination, he’s making his ambitions a reality.

Because opportunity isn’t just about what’s possible – it’s about what’s next. And we’re here to make that next step happen.