Joe

From Project Worker to Assistant Director, Joe’s journey shows how a passion for supporting people can grow into a fulfilling and progressive career.

What first inspired you to build a career supporting people experiencing homelessness?

At university I did a lot of volunteering with groups described at the time as “vulnerable,” including work with Student Action for Refugees and a charity called Sport for Life, which ran sports sessions for people experiencing homelessness. I realised that working directly with people at some of their lowest moments was the part I enjoyed most, and that I wanted to build a career around it.

My interview for a Project Worker role at Single Homeless Project was what convinced me: I was shown around the service by residents and even interviewed by them. It felt genuine, respectful and centred on the people using the service. That authenticity is why I chose to work here and why I’ve stayed.

How did your journey at Single Homeless Project begin, and what were the key moments that shaped your progression?

I started as a Level 1 Project Worker in Leytonstone. My manager spotted potential in me early and pushed me in the best way into responsibilities like supervising volunteers and getting involved in recruitment. Those small leadership opportunities built the foundation for everything that came after.

From there, I moved into the Camden Aftercare Team as a Social Inclusion and Opportunities Worker, before progressing into Senior Worker and Team Manager roles in Islington Aftercare.

Each step taught me something new, but most importantly, I discovered how much I loved developing people and helping teams grow. 

That passion is ultimately what led me into a central role to becoming an Assistant Director.

What made progression at Single Homeless Project feel achievable for you?

Progression felt natural and well supported. Single Homeless Project gave me the space to try new responsibilities early on and trusted me to take on leadership tasks. There’s a strong culture of encouraging ideas, learning and growth, which made each step feel achievable and motivating.

What do you think helped you move from frontline work into senior leadership?

Most of the support came through managers who gave me real opportunities like recruiting volunteers, supervising people, and taking on responsibilities that built my confidence. Single Homeless Project’s culture of encouraging innovation and different approaches also made transitions easier, because trying new things was welcomed, not feared.

What early experiences helped shape the way you lead now?

Supervising volunteers early on taught me people-management skills and how to motivate others. Working across different service types such as accommodation and floating support. These helped me understand the varied needs of our client groups. I also developed patience, resilience and a more realistic understanding of how slow progress can be when people are going through extremely difficult periods.

What have you learned about yourself through your career at Single Homeless Project?

I’ve learned that patience is one of my strongest traits. Progress, whether with clients or within teams, rarely happens in a straight line. Leading people has helped me slow down, appreciate different perspectives and recognise that growth takes time, encouragement and consistency.

What do you value most about working at Single Homeless Project?

The people. I work with colleagues from incredibly diverse professional and personal backgrounds, many of whom have been here nearly as long as I have.

Single Homeless Project encourages creativity and new ideas, and so many of our best projects have come directly from staff thinking differently. That freedom and collaboration is what I value most.

What would you say to someone thinking about joining Single Homeless Project? 

Go for it. Our charity values attitude, empathy and resilience far more than specific experience. I’ve seen people join from bar work, construction, law and all sorts of unrelated fields and thrive. If you care about supporting people and you’re willing to learn, you can go far here. My own background before was marketing, and it was empathy not experience that helped me progress.

What’s been the most challenging part of transitioning between different roles or service types? 

Moving between service types can be a big shift. In accommodation services you act almost like a landlord as well as a support worker, whereas when you work out in the community, it involves very different responsibilities and more technical work around maintaining independence. It takes time to adapt to these different cultures and ways of working but recognising that each service brings unique challenges makes the transition easier.

Looking back, what lessons have stayed with you throughout your career?

I’ve learned how complex homelessness is, and that progress often happens slowly. Every client group and service type operates differently and adapting to that has taught me a lot about flexibility, patience and the realities people face across London.

What are some of the standout milestones in your journey?

A major milestone was launching the Achieving Potential team about six years ago. Centralising employability support showed that we truly believe education, training and employment are achievable for everyone. Creating dedicated resources and staff training was a big moment for our charity and for me professionally.