Case Study: Leah’s Story
After a rocky start in life with a difficult home background, Leah was keen to gain some independence as her foster parents were due to retire. It was at this point that Leah came to the YMCA, following in her big sisters’ footsteps as the third sister in her family to move into our supported accommodation.
Despite being quiet at first, Leah soon settled in with the support of dedicated YMCA staff members, often spending time with friends and her sisters who lived close by after moving on from supported accommodation. Over time, Leah has come out of her shell, and now regularly enjoys taking part in social activities such as cooking, film nights, and crafts workshops. Dedicated to supporting her future, Leah is still studying, and building up her CV by volunteering at the local YMCA Charity shop.
As Leah’s big sisters progress from our move-on project and onto university, they will be leaving Leah in the capable hands of the move-on project, demonstrating how all three sisters are following the same path with YMCA, paving the way for a safe successful future.
Following in the ambitious footsteps of her sisters, Leah hopes to begin a career in fashion when she eventually leaves the care of YMCA.
*At Leah’s request, we have used an actor in the photograph.
Read more of our case studies:
Housing Case Study: The Journey to Self-Management
Crisis and Instability Liam arrived at YMCA in Summer 2024, having spent the previous year in a hostel after losing his accommodation due to unmanaged mental health struggles. His difficulties were rooted in a severely abusive and traumatic childhood, which continued...
Housing Case Study: Rebuilding A Life After Loss
Trauma, Loss, and Exclusion Sarah arrived at the YMCA in late 2024 after four years of chronic homelessness and sofa surfing. Her instability was driven by a long-term struggle with substance misuse, compounded by a catastrophic life event: she woke up one morning to...
Housing Case Study: Finding His Stride
Homelessness and Deterioration Referred to us in Winter 2024 by a concerned high school teacher, Aidan was found sleeping in a friend’s garden shed. This followed three months of instability after a severe relationship breakdown with his parents, stemming from a toxic...
Housing Case Study: A New Chapter of Independence
Supported housing plays a vital role in empowering individuals with learning difficulties to live more independently, offering a safe and nurturing environment that balances support with autonomy. One powerful example of this is a young woman with learning...
Case Study: Joe’s Story
Joe arrived at the YMCA on 26.11.24 after being asked to leave home and struggling with mental health and substance misuse. Diagnosed with ADHD at age three, Joe experienced behavioural issues leading to incomplete secondary education, compounded by early cannabis use...