Just five short months ago, Steven Thompson had no idea his life was about to change as a result of a referral to Newcastle College. It marked the end of a seven-year journey which started with a divorce and a stint sleeping on the streets.

“I think 95% of everyone on the street is male and there is a reason for that,” Steven said. “When my marriage broke down, I left the family home and there was nowhere for me to go.

“Because of my age there was no help. Because I wasn’t young, I wasn’t seen as vulnerable. No dependent children. That was it.”

It was with the help of his mother and a kind guarantor he never met that Steven was able to find a rented flat and begin to turn his life around.

“It’s true that once you get a place to live it changes everything,” he continued. “It meant I could go to court and fight for my kids. I could apply for jobs, have a shower. If you don’t have that, it’s hard.”

Starting from scratch, the 44 year-old has spent the last six years self-employed as a painter and decorator and taking the space he needed to recover from his divorce. He even found the time to graduate with a history degree.

But in 2019, unfulfilled in his work and claiming Universal Credit, Steven was sent on an employability course at Newcastle College, something which would prove to be a turning point.

Steven explained: “Self-employment was going well but it just wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to look in the mirror every day and think I’ve made a difference. If I’m emotionally, physically, mentally knackered at the end of the day that’s great, as long as I’ve made a difference to someone.

“I hadn’t been unemployed for long, just a few months. I’ve got a degree so going on a course like this…I’m not sure if I was condescending but I really didn’t want to be there.

“As it turns out, even from the second I walked in I could tell that the course lecturers, Sarah and Helen, would do anything to help you. The most important thing they did for me was ask me what I want to be doing.”

One of those lecturers, Helen Griggs, says that belief and support is what makes the real difference. “The goal for anybody coming onto an employment support course is to find work,” she says. “We support them on their journey and whether that’s boosting their self-esteem and their confidence, or helping them complete job applications, it’s important to help them believe that anything is possible.”

It was Steven’s belief that he was capable of doing the job he really wanted to do which propelled him forward. With the help of Helen, he applied for an Outreach Worker role with Oasis Housing, working in partnership with Changing Lives.

“They wanted two years’ experience and all sorts of things which meant I would never have applied for it in a million years,” says Steven.

“But Helen saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. It took about four hours to do the application with her help. I’d have employed me by the time she was finished!

“So that’s what got me the interview but I think it’s important for anyone doing this course to understand that’s as far as Helen or Sarah can take you - to the interview. Once you’re there it’s up to you and if you don’t want it you’re not going to get it.”

Unfortunately for Steven, that wasn’t the happy ending he was hoping for, as he wasn’t offered the job.

“I was absolutely heartbroken,” he added. “But they called me back and said they still wanted me to be part of the team and asked me to apply for a Peer Support Worker role instead.

“I couldn’t have pinpointed a better job - a Peer Support Worker is the stage after an Outreach Worker goes out onto the streets to help people. They’ll come to me and it’ll be my job to help find them somewhere to live and get them help with any issues.

“I went in to this course thinking it was a bit pointless but it has absolutely changed my life, utterly and completely. It’s up to me now but I’m not going to waste this opportunity. It couldn’t have worked out any better for me, I’m just itching to get started.”

“This is what makes my job worthwhile,” adds Helen. “It’s all about making a difference to people’s lives.”