Supporting local young people going through hard times – that is how the charity Step By Step describes its approach.

The Aldershot-based organisation provides accommodation, personal development opportunities and specialist support services to help young people (under the age of 25 years-old) identify and fulfil their aspirations.

Step By Step, based in Crimea Road, in Aldershot, is one of three charities to benefit from money raised from the Positive Change campaign, which is tackling antisocial behaviour and street begging by encouraging people to donate to local charities rather than giving loose change to people begging on the street.

Debbie Moreton, Head of Young People’s Services at Step by Step said: “We run accommodation services for young people who aren’t in a position to remain at home, and our aim is to empower young people and prevent young people from ever needing to access those services.

“Through our talent coaching and counselling work with people as young as 11, and the personal development opportunities we offer, as well as our drop-in and online accommodation advice, we are able to prevent young people’s situations from worsening to the point where they need accommodation support.”

Step By Step was founded by Bridget Crowther in 1987 as Blackwater Valley Accommodation Projects (BVAP), and opened Emmaus House in 1992, accommodating 12 young people. An additional house in Victoria Road opened in 1995, accommodating a further seven young people. BVAP became Emmaus Projects in 1997 and began offering supported lodgings. Educational sessions such as computer courses and employment assistance began to be offered, alongside accommodation shortly afterwards.

Step By Step was born in 2007, with the first purpose-built Foyer (shared accommodation) opening in Aldershot in 2011, replacing the premises at Emmaus House and Victoria Road. Further advances include Future STEPS, a service for young people aged between 11 years old and 16 years old, in which talent coaches work with young people on a 1:1 basis to develop skills, increase self-esteem, build motivation and offer support to successfully access employment, education and training opportunities.

The charity currently accommodates around 240 young people at any given time, either as a lodger with a host family, couple or single person (supported lodgings) or in shared accommodation called “Foyers”. In a Foyer, young people (mostly aged between 16-21 years-old) will have their own rooms, and will share their living space with other young people who are also going through challenging times. Each young person is allocated a Step Worker, to help identify aims and to work alongside them to fulfil their potential.

At the end of a Supported Lodgings or Foyer placement, young people will aim to move on independently, into a room in a shared house. Many young people move onto another Step by Step placement to continue their learning while around a third move in with family members or return home.

The Positive Change campaign, run by Rushmoor Borough Council and Safer North Hampshire, is focused on how people can support long-term change for individuals who may have previously experienced homelessness, and who may continue to socialise, drink and commit antisocial behaviour.

Although there are very few street homeless people locally, the number of people begging is increasing, leading to some complaints in the town centre.

The Positive Change campaign is encouraging people to put money into the right hands by donating into collecting tins around the town centres, with all proceeds being split between three Aldershot-based charities – Step by Step, The Society of St James, which runs North Lane Lodge, and The Vine Centre.

Councillor Ken Muschamp, Deputy Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, and chairman of Safer North Hampshire, said: “The work of Step By Step is to be applauded, and they are very worthy recipients of the money raised through the Positive Change campaign.”

• If anyone sees someone sleeping rough, they can report it on the StreetLink website www.streetlink.org.uk, which will come directly through to the council’s housing team.

Collecting tins are available at the following locations around Aldershot and Farnborough:

• Princes Hall, Princes Way, Aldershot
• Rushmoor Borough Council offices, Farnborough Road, Farnborough
• West End Centre, Queens Road, Aldershot
• Goldstation Jewellers, Victoria Road, Aldershot
• NatWest, Wellington Street, Aldershot
• Bridges Estate Agents, High Street, Aldershot
• Shree Lucky Jewellers, Victoria Road, Aldershot

For more information on the campaign, visit the Safer North Hampshire website, www.safernh.co.uk or the Rushmoor Borough Council website www.rushmoor.gov.uk