My colleague Jarrod moved house a few weeks ago. Typically he had loads on at work and was moving in with a friend.
Just as with my own move three months ago, Jarrod found it pretty stressful. Fitting the packing around his working schedule left him exhausted.
He then had to take time off to go and buy expensive appliances as well as to pick up the keys, sort out utilities, sign paperwork etc etc.
And finally, he had a bit of a nightmare with a utility company that turned out not to be their supplier. Two weeks on and things are not resolved yet, and he still doesn’t have a vacuum cleaner!
So, yet again both Jarrod and I found ourselves reflecting on this experience in light of what we do here at Your Own Place.
With support, family. funds and an understanding employer (?) it was still a pretty stressful experience.
For many of our young people they are doing all of this aged 18. They may have very little family support or knowledge of how things work, as well as high levels of anxiety and no history of house moves to build on.
In short, it can absolutely break them. Mentors, role-models, some financial support, someone asking how it’s going can all make a massive difference at this critical time.
It should be exciting and full of fresh beginnings.