In this video (created by St Martin in the Fields Charity*) Project Z youth practitioner Holly talks about the team's service, and gives an overview of their approach to working with young people experiencing homelessness.

The team describe their approach as relational, meaning that building a constructive and trusted relationship with their young people is a key foundation to the work they do together. With an unwavering commitment to person-centred working, the needs and aspirations of Project Z's young people are always at the heart of what they do. Holly's colleague Shanta tells us, “We put a lot of effort into building a trusting supportive relationship with young people and go at their pace. It's led by them; they're in control of it."

Valuing individuality

Finding out the concerns and interests of the young people means that the work is rooted in their everyday lives. Holly gives an example of young people who ask for support around money and budgeting, “If we know they like shopping, we can make it fun, going round the supermarket and making an experience that’s more interesting for them.” It’s this attention to valuing the individual that means more complex issues can be addressed, maximising the young people’s chances of finding and maintaining a long-term, stable housing option. Often the complex issues can be traumatising and sit alongside difficulties in navigating the housing system; these things can’t be ignored if this longer-term stability is to be secured.

An effective approach

It's an approach that has proven itself effective time after time, and it's always a joy to see so many young people find ways of reaching their potential and leaving a homelessness crisis behind. “Nine times out of ten,” reflects Holly, “it's not been great for them, so all they need is somebody to guide them through it. That's all they need. Some support. That's what we do, and we do it really well.”

*St Martin in the Fields have supported Project Z through their Frontline Fund.