Madison, who became pregnant at the age of 17, has spoken out about the invaluable support she received from a youth project aimed at young mothers, which ultimately paved the way for her to secure council housing.
Residing in a caravan in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, Madison faced the challenging prospect of securing housing as she was under 18 at the time. Tendring, the district encompassing Clacton, was grappling with the second-highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the East of England. However, with the assistance of initiatives like the Youth Enquiry Service (Yes) based in Holland-on-Sea, the district has managed to reduce its teenage pregnancy rate by a significant 47.9% over the past decade.
The Yes program actively engages with schools, offering educational outreach and crucial mental health support. It extends its services to encompass group activities tailored for new parents and imparts essential advice on housing and sexual health.
Madison, now 20 and a single mother, credited Yes with helping her secure residence in a mother and baby unit, where she was offered guidance on budgeting and childcare for her son, Oliver.
Reflecting on her life before reaching out to the charity, Madison said, “I had to move out of my family home quite quickly. I was sofa-surfing; It was a terrible time; I didn’t know where I was going to land up with a baby in my arms.”
Dr. David Sollis, the CEO of Yes, highlighted the pressing issue of social housing shortage. He noted that many young mothers, shortly after giving birth, find themselves making urgent calls to their local council’s housing department, declaring themselves homeless. Dr. Sollis emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating, “It’s an awful position to be in. It’s blocking up the NHS, but it’s also affecting the young mum, so we really need to sort it out. We believe every child should have the best start in life, but we need to do it quicker.”
Tracey Giles, a link worker specializing in teenage pregnancy, shared that young women often spend time in temporary accommodation before securing mother and baby units or suitable housing. She expressed concerns about the limited cooking facilities in such accommodations, stating, “Obviously, we’re advising them to eat healthily and make good lifestyle choices, but unfortunately when they’re there, they only have a microwave and a kettle, so it’s a lot of ready meals which isn’t great.”
Tendring District Council acknowledged the social housing challenge, with 1,609 individuals on its waiting list for such accommodation. The council has allocated specific funding to support mother and baby housing through one of the district’s housing providers. Independent cabinet member for housing and planning, Andy Baker, urged homeless individuals, especially those with additional circumstances like pregnancy, to reach out for timely support. He acknowledged the importance of prioritizing those with the greatest need and mentioned ongoing redevelopment efforts to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families.
Following her stay in a mother and baby unit, Madison successfully secured a two-bedroom council house with the budgeting advice received from Yes. This enabled her to save for driving lessons, leading to her obtaining a driving license and a job as a cleaner six months ago. She expressed her joy at achieving this milestone, stating, “I’ve been dreaming of driving for years; I didn’t think I’d be able to get there, and I did. I feel like I’ve finally got the work experience I need to find the right path in life. If it wasn’t for Tracey, I don’t think I’d have got where I am now, that’s for sure.”
Madison’s older sister, DC, has been a pillar of support, caring for Oliver while Madison is at work. DC expressed her pride in Madison’s achievements and encouraged others to seek help when needed.
Another young mother, Tracy, who became pregnant at 24, also benefited from Yes, which aided her in overcoming anxiety and improving her confidence. Tracy found camaraderie and valuable advice among fellow mothers in the program, emphasizing the importance of peer support.
Yes pointed out that mental health remains a significant concern among young people. The charity reported a 55% increase in the number of individuals seeking their assistance over the past two years, with 80 people being served each week in Holland-on-Sea and Colchester. They work in collaboration with the NHS, which currently faces a nine-month waiting list for children and young people seeking mental health support. Dr. Sollis stressed the need for a comprehensive long-term plan to address mental health concerns.
