Lucy’s story

Lucy is the youngest of three siblings. Her mother was an alcoholic and her step-father used to fly into rages and punch them both. Growing up, Lucy often went hungry for days on end, with no food for her anywhere in the house. As her mother’s alcoholism got worse, the state of the house deteriorated rapidly. Eventually, Lucy was trying to do her homework surrounded by squalor, alcohol and the threat of violence.

Easier not to go home

Lucy started sleeping on floors and stayed with anyone who could give her a roof over her head. At first it was with mates but, when she could no longer count on them, it was pimps and drug dealers who stepped in. One guy made Lucy feel safe. "He seemed so friendly", she recalls, "but then he started hitting me". He forced her to have sex for money and started dealing drugs, like crack. "I had to get away from there. But I didn’t know where else to go".

Practical support

Thankfully, Lucy was referred to Centrepoint, where she not only had a warm, safe room but also regular support and development meetings. These regular sessions helped Lucy with her reading and writing – she’d found it harder and harder to keep up with her schoolwork. She now has a CV and is busy filling out job application forms.

More than just a room

Slowly, Lucy is turning from a scared, damaged girl who thought she was going to end up dead into someone with more confidence in her ability to look after herself. She’s learning how to cook nutritious meals and keep a household budget.

Future ambitions

Lucy is starting to appreciate the well-rounded girl that she has become and is now able to make plans for the future. Our help will make sure that she can achieve her ambitions.