Mohammed shares his experience of EveryYouth Employed, and his plans for the future. 

My name is Mohammed, and I’m 21. 

Life growing up was difficult, we didn’t have a lot of money and as I got older, and wanted more freedom to explore, my relationship with my parents became more strained. When I went to university, I started fending for myself completely. 

Things got harder towards the end of university; I struggled to find accommodation and became homelessness. At this point I was unable to continue with my course. 

Finding St Basil’s meant I was able to build my life up from basically scratch. They gave me a place to live, and help to find a job through their careers team [funded through EveryYouth Employed]. They helped me with improving my cv, finding jobs within the field I wanted to enter and with costs associated with job interviews and so forth – all of which led me to getting my first proper job. I’m appreciative for the support I’ve received from St Basil’s. If I didn’t have them, I would still be homeless and on the street, unable to feed of clothe myself properly – without it I don’t know where I’d be today.

Right now, I’m not particularly happy in my job and I’m looking for something new. St Basil’s team are supporting me on this journey. In the future I’d love to finish my degree and maybe open my own jazz café. Somewhere that also provides training for people who are vulnerable or at risk so they can earn money while also getting experience. Having been in that situation I know it’s something I want to do. I also have a separate dream of becoming a novelist. 

My advice for someone going through the same situation; don’t give up. As much as someone else or an organisation can help you, it’s down to you as a person to openly accept that help and try and move forward with it and improve your life. No one can help you more than yourself. 

Mohammed’s name has been changed, and his image created by one of EveryYouth’s talented volunteers, as requested and approved by Mohammed.