Shaun's story
Eighteen year old Shaun is of Irish Traveller background and he grew up on a traveller site within a close knit and supportive community. When he was eight years old, he and his mother moved into a flat, and Shaun lost all ties with the community he had grown up with.
After the move his mother's mood swings and drinking got progressively worse, and soon this turned into alcoholism and Shaun never knew when or why he would be beaten next. It wasn't long before he began fighting back and taking his anger with him to his new school. At thirteen he was permanently excluded for punching a teacher, and left school with no qualifications.
At fifteen social services intervened and put him a foster home. He was there for ten days before he ran away, and Shaun's social worker thought she'd found a solution when his favourite cousin agreed to be his legal guardian. It seemed that Shaun could have a fresh start and a safe home, but his cousin backed out at the last minute, leaving Shaun feeling rejected and with no where to go apart from a violent home.
The police were often called to break up fights between Shaun and his mother, who repeatedly alleged that he was stealing from her. He had become involved in robbery to fund his cannabis addiction, and soon found himself serving a six month sentence at Feltham Young Offenders Institute.
Shaun served his sentence and was due to be released, but there was no way he could return home. Despite everything that Shaun had been through, he had maintained a good relationship with his girlfriend, and she was one of the only constant and positive things in his life. When he was released from prison her family took him in, but he knew this was only temporary.
Shaun wanted to leave his past behind him and have a fresh start, so he went to Nightstop London to urgently seek help in gaining access to accommodation, counselling and rehab. Shaun was in a fragile mental state, and the London Nightstop staff knew they needed to work fast to get him the accommodation and psychological support that would keep him stable.
He had been turned away from council housing before, but worked tirelessly with his key worker to apply to numerous hostels. His key worker also put him in touch with an Irish cultural centre, who agreed to advocate for him and help him make links in the community. Finally Shaun was referred to an accommodation project that also offered floating support, so he could learn about independent living.
His key worker organised referrals to counselling and rehab centres, and Shaun made sure he got the most out of the support, so that he could face the past and begin turning his life around. Now Shaun has got the fresh start and a safe home he has needed all his life, and is dedicated to building himself a positive future.
