Steve's Homestays journey

Steve was working at the shipyard when a serious motorbike accident in 1988 led him to rethink his career.

After undergoing reconstructive surgery, he needed a change of pace and became a stay-at-home dad while his wife worked as a nurse. As his children grew older, Steve underwent further surgery, including a hip replacement, before deciding he was ready to return to part-time work.

He began a new career in care, working for the local authority’s learning disability service.

“I worked in a house with three young men and a small team of other carers. I really enjoyed it, but as time went on the service was taken over due to funding issues, first by Mencap and later another organisation. I became a bit disillusioned and eventually moved to work at a children’s home in Barrow.”

Steve worked there for three years, and it was during this time that he first heard about Homestays.

“Obviously, through working in care and at the children’s home, I had an understanding of working with young people. When a former colleague started talking about Homestays, it sounded really interesting.”

Steve contacted the local Homestays team to find out more and soon realised the outreach side of the service would suit him best.

“Outreach really appealed to me. I’d worked with young people in residential care and knew that when they leave, they can suddenly find themselves on their own to some extent. By doing outreach, I realised I could be there for them at the other end.”

Building trust and finding common ground

Over his eight years with Homestays, Steve provided longer-term support to four young men, working with them until they reached the age of 21. He also supported other young people on a shorter-term basis.

For Steve, a big part of the role was taking the time to get to know each young person as an individual.

“At one point I was supporting two lads. It’s a learning curve because you don’t always have a lot of information when you first meet them. It’s all about getting to know them, finding out what interests them and trying to find that common ground.

“One of the lads I worked with loved motorbikes, so I used to get him on the back of my bike and take him to the Lakes, and we’d go swimming. He loved it. Another enjoyed cycling, and he’d also come to my allotment and feed the chickens.”

“It’s important for them to know someone has their back”

Steve is honest that outreach work can sometimes be challenging. Building trust takes time, particularly when young people have experienced difficult or unsettled circumstances.

“A lot of these lads had been through the mill and were very apprehensive about anyone they perceived as being in authority. Sometimes they don’t want to engage, and you can’t go into it thinking you can ‘fix’ everyone.

“You can’t fix them, but you can help them and be there for them. I was always there at the end of the phone. It’s really important for them to know someone has their back.”

Often, Steve found that practical, everyday support provided an opportunity to build a relationship.

“You need to be patient. I’d help with practical jobs around their flat, accessing benefits or cooking a meal. Little things like that can help to break the ice.”

Seeing yong people move forward

For Steve, one of the most rewarding parts of outreach work was seeing young people grow in confidence and begin to make positive changes in their lives.

He remembers one young man in particular:

“There’s one young man I worked with who was 30 stone when I met him. He liked being in his room on the computer and ordering junk food. He was very anxious about leaving the house.

“Now he’s 28, goes to the gym regularly, has lost 16 stone and has a girlfriend. He’s come on in leaps and bounds.”

Flexibility with a lasting impact

The flexibility of Homestays outreach was one of the things that initially appealed to Steve. He was still working part-time in care when he joined the service and was able to arrange visits at times that worked for both him and the young person he was supporting.

But for Steve, the role became about much more than fitting work around his other commitments.

“It’s a big emotional commitment because you really grow to care about the young people, and they become a bit like extended family.

“I still see a lot of the lads when I’m walking around town. They’ll come up to me and we’ll have a cup of tea and a catch-up.”

Could Homestays outreach be for you?

After eight years supporting young people, Steve would encourage anyone who thinks they could offer patience, practical support and a listening ear to find out more.

“Doing Homestays outreach, you will make a difference and enrich someone’s life. It’s an ideal way of working flexibly with young people.”

Homestays outreach workers provide practical and emotional support to young people as they take their first steps towards independent living. If you think you could be someone a young person can rely on, find out more about becoming involved with Homestays. Speak to us today on 0300 019 0200