J.F, a young man who had just turned 18, came to Stand Together Network after months of sofa surfing and living in constant insecurity. He hadn’t achieved any GCSE qualifications and felt overwhelmed by life. Quiet, withdrawn, and deeply mistrustful of others, J.F had lost hope in the future.

Behind his silence was a troubling reality—J.F had been drawn into county lines activity, exploited because of his vulnerability and lack of stable support. He was scared, exhausted, and didn’t know where to turn.

He joined our Young People’s Project, which supports young people at risk into education, training, and employment. At first, J.F was distant and disengaged. But through consistent one-to-one advice, pastoral care, and a safe, non-judgemental space, he slowly began to trust again.

We supported him to apply for Universal Credit and access housing benefit, which helped him move into a shared HMO property. Having a safe place to live gave J.F the stability he had never had before—and from there, things began to change.

We talked to him about the value of education, qualifications, and work experience. Over time, he took part in face-to-face and online training and completed a range of courses, including Functional Skills in English and Maths, Confidence Building, and a Level 3 Certificate in Computer Technology at a local college. J.F also joined our volunteering and work experience placements, building his CV, skills, and confidence.

Now, J.F is preparing to start university to study Law. After everything he has been through, this milestone is a testament to his strength—and to what’s possible with the right support and belief.