Adam's Story
"Jane didn't tell me what my future should be. She listened to what I wanted and helped me believe I could build it for myself."
I didn't want to be there
When I moved into supported housing, I didn't want to be there. I'd had plenty of support workers before. Most told me what I should do, but few ever really listened. Some never even turned up. So when I met Jane, I expected exactly the same. Instead, she kept showing up. She'd knock on my door, tempt me out with food and, most importantly, take the time to get to know me.
Someone finally listened
I wasn't interested in college or low-paid jobs. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to own a nice house, drive a nice car and become a businessman like Alan Sugar. Most people would have laughed. Jane didn't. She listened to my ambitions and started looking for opportunities that matched what I actually wanted, not what everyone else thought I should do.
Opening the door
Jane discovered a business course linked to the Peter Jones Academy. For the first time, my dream felt possible. There was just one problem: I needed my Maths and English qualifications first. So I went back to college. Jane helped whenever I needed it, even when I pretended I didn't. She challenged me to work things out for myself and encouraged me to keep going when it would have been easier to give up.
Building my future
I passed my qualifications and applied for the Peter Jones Academy. I got in. Looking back, the biggest difference wasn't just the education: it was having someone who believed in me, took my ambitions seriously and never stopped showing up. Jane didn't decide my future for me. She gave me the confidence to believe I could create it myself.
Adam's story shows that real support isn't about telling young people what they should become. It's about listening to who they want to be, believing in them and helping them take the first steps towards getting there.