Step by Step

About the Organisation

Step by Step is a UK-registered charity focused on supporting young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, primarily across the South of England. Its mission is to empower young people, provide safe living environments, and help them build skills, confidence and pathways to independent adult life. The organisation is based in Aldershot and works across multiple counties including Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, Wiltshire, West Berkshire and West Sussex.

Services & Programmes

Step by Step offers a holistic set of services tailored for young people who are vulnerable, facing housing instability, or dealing with emotional challenges:

• Supported Accommodation: Shared housing (often through ‘foyers’) and other accommodation options where young people can live in a stable, structured environment.
  
• Supported Lodgings: Placements with trained hosts/families that provide a supportive home environment.
  
• Fostering: Alternative care placements for young people needing a family setting.
  
• Launch Service: Free advice, guidance and referrals delivered one-to-one through their Launch team, helping young people navigate support options.
  
• Youth Counselling & Emotional Wellbeing Support: Counselling and wellbeing services to help with mental health, personal development, confidence and life skills.
  
• Referral Pathways: Step by Step accepts referrals for accommodation, counselling or advice from partners, professionals or self-referrals from eligible young people.
  

The focus is not just housing — it’s wrap-around support addressing personal development, emotional wellbeing and practical life skills so young people can move towards independence.

Who They Support

Step by Step primarily supports young people aged roughly 16–25 who are at risk of homelessness or transitioning from unstable circumstances. This includes:

• Individuals facing housing insecurity, family breakdown, or similar crises.
  
• Young people with emotional or wellbeing challenges needing counselling or guidance.
  
• Care leavers and potentially unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people needing tailored support.
  
• Families and parents seeking help for their young people can also access information and guidance.
  

Step by Step reports supporting over 1,400 young people each year, with most demonstrating positive progress toward independence.

Regional Coverage

Although based in Aldershot (Hampshire), Step by Step’s services cover a wider regional footprint in southern England, including:

• Hampshire
• Surrey
• West Sussex
• Dorset
• Wiltshire
• West Berkshire

Its outreach and accommodation services are structured so young people can access support within these counties rather than being restricted to a single town or city.

Role in the Employment & Support Landscape

Step by Step is not a careers or job-seeking service per se, but its work intersects with employability and life skills development in these ways:

• Stabilising vulnerable young people so they’re better positioned to pursue education, training or work.
  
• Providing support that reduces barriers (housing/mental health) that often block entry to training and employment.
  
• Through counselling and guidance services, helping young people set goals and plan next steps, which may include job search, education or vocational training.
  

Step by Step fills a critical gap between crisis support (housing/emotional) and enabling long-term participation in work or structured learning by offering stability and confidence building first.

Summary

Step by Step is a youth support charity tackling homelessness and instability in young people through accommodation, emotional support, life skills and guidance services. While it isn’t a direct employment service, it plays a foundational role in helping young people overcome barriers that typically prevent access to training, education and work. Its multi-county reach across southern England and broad service mix make it a valuable resource for young people needing comprehensive support.