News / Youth Homelessness
Helping young people at risk of homelessness to thrive
To raise awareness of youth homelessness, LandAid are organising a night of live music, street food and dance for those working in the industry on Wednesday, July 3.
Meeting with Dom Wood, chief executive of 1625IP, and Andy (known as Scottish), 27, who has been supported by the charity, they explained their involvement in the fundraising event and about Scottish’s story.
The evening will also be a fundraiser for local charities supporting homeless people, such as 1625IP and Developing Health and Independence.
is needed now More than ever
A young person with Dom Wood in a recent video by Triodos Bank
Scottish was raised by his grandparents in Scotland until he was 15, when he found out he was adopted, and his father lived in Bristol. He moved to the city to live him, but this didn’t work out and Scottish became homeless shortly after moving to the city. “I lived in hostels, night shelters, slept on the streets when it was warm enough, B&B’s,” Scottish explains. “Then I was taken in by the Bristol Foyer in 2007.
“They signposted me to different services, like Basement Studios, where you can DJ.”
Scottish was soon offered a two-bed flat but, at 17, wasn’t ready for the responsibility, which resulted in £6000 of debt and a return to the streets.
He was then referred to and supported by 1625IP, helping Scottish receive the mental health support he needed and officially be signed off as ‘unfit for work’.
“I had really bad mental health, really bad anger issues,” says Scottish. “Benefits people aren’t psychologists, I was stereotyped and told I had no mental health problems.
“But when I did see a psychologist, they said after asking me four questions that I couldn’t work. I ended up with £3500 of backpay from the Government that I should have been paid because I couldn’t work when they said I could.”
Scottish spent the money of a DJ kit, something he desperately wanted. Dom adds: “It’d be so easy just to spend all that money on drugs or other substances, but Scottish didn’t.”
From there, Scottish DJed at friend’s party, at the Bristol Foyer and for 1625IP’s last three Christmas parties at the Trinity Centre.
East Street Mews is a Bedminster project creating housing for young people and is partly funded by LandAid
1625IP put Scottish forward as a performer for LandAid’s fundraising night on Wednesday, July 3, to further increase his confidence as a performer and his independence.
Helping educate the property sector on converting empty properties into homes for young people who are sleeping rough, LandAid is a property industry charity working with the property, legal and construction sector in Bristol to work together.
Money raised through the evening will go towards local charities such as 1625IP, based in Bristol, and Developing Health and Independence, based in Bath.
“Young people have been let down,” says Dom. “There’s less housing and what is available is often unaffordable.
“We’re working with LandAid and other funders to renovate old council housing deemed too expensive to repair and then having for ten years for young people, before giving it back to the council.”
Organisations like LandAid and events like the fundraising evening on July 3 mean more affordable housing for young people in need.
“It helps young people and gives them confidence,” says Scottish. “I just love standing up in front of people and playing music and I love that I get to do that for four or five hours and help raise money.”
Read more: ‘TAP for Bristol’ is a new way to help the city’s homeless
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