At first glance, this success story might seem like a simple case of correcting an inaccurate bill. But for one young person, the impact has been significant.
One of our Support Workers, Maisie, recently helped a young person who had been pursued for a utility debt of £900. The debt wasn’t even theirs, but despite this, they were facing increasing pressure from utility providers and debt collection agencies.
Maisie worked tirelessly to advocate on the young person’s behalf, speaking directly with both the utility company and debt collectors to challenge the charges and provide evidence that the debt was inaccurate. Thanks to her persistence, the amount owed was reduced from almost £900 to just £250.
While Maisie viewed this as part of her everyday role, the outcome demonstrates the huge difference that practical support and advocacy can make. For a young person already facing significant challenges, receiving letters about a large debt can be overwhelming and frightening. Many of the young people we support are living on limited incomes, often relying on Universal Credit, making debts of this size impossible to manage.
Without intervention, the situation could have escalated further, potentially leading to continued action from debt collectors and bailiffs arriving on the young person’s door, causing significant stress and anxiety. Instead, Maisie helped the young person understand the process, navigate complex systems, and achieve a fair outcome.
This story also highlights the importance of the preventative work our Support Workers carry out every day. When young people move into accommodation, setting up utilities correctly is one of the many practical tasks our team helps them with. Managing utility accounts can be confusing, particularly for those living independently for the first time, and getting things wrong can have serious consequences later.
By helping young people understand their responsibilities, set up accounts correctly, and resolve issues when they arise, our Support Workers prevent problems from escalating and give young people the confidence and skills they need to maintain their tenancies successfully.
Sometimes the biggest impact comes from what appear to be the smallest actions. Behind every phone call, form, and piece of advocacy is a young person who feels less stressed, more supported, and better equipped to move forward with their life.