Yvonne Connolly reflects on the progress, and impact, of Llamau’s youth homelessness programme Upstream.
Homelessness for young people in Wales is a pressing but often hidden issue. Every year, young people face the risk of losing their homes due to family instability, financial hardship, and insecure housing: challenges that disrupt their education, mental health, and future opportunities.
Upstream Cymru aligns with the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework, helping to reduce NEETs (people Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and homelessness by identifying young people who might be overlooked by traditional early identification tools.
Since launching in 2020, Llamau’s Upstream Cymru programme has been working to identify and address these risks early, preventing homelessness before it happens. Four years on, we reflect on what we’ve learned and how early intervention is transforming lives.
Upstream Cymru is an early intervention programme that works with schools to identify young people at risk of homelessness before they reach crisis point, providing targeted support to keep them safe, engaged in education, and on track for a stable future. Stage one of the programme is a survey, followed by analysis and then intervention through activities like meditation, and lastly support with engagement.
Youth Homelessness, a hidden challenge
Homelessness for young people doesn’t always mean sleeping rough. Many young people stay in precarious situations: sofa surfing, living in unsafe housing, or moving between temporary accommodation. Surveys undertaken as part of the Upstream Cymru project highlight the scale of the issue: 15% of young people surveyed are at high or immediate risk of homelessness. This underlines the need for urgent, proactive support. All data listed is from September 2020 – April 2024, from 13 schools mainly located in the South Wales and Valleys region.
Surveys undertaken as part of the Upstream Cymru project highlight the scale of the issue: 15% of young people surveyed are at high or immediate risk of homelessness. This underlines the need for urgent, proactive support.
Key survey insights:
- Around 1 in 20 (6%) young people needed immediate intervention to prevent homelessness
- Nearly 1 in 10 (9%) were identified as high risk
Why early support matters
Losing a safe home has far-reaching consequences. It disrupts education, impacts mental health, and creates long-term barriers to stability. Schools can play a crucial role in spotting the warning signs early and connecting young people with the right support before their situation worsens.
Preventing homelessness in schools
To tackle this challenge, schools need the right tools and training to recognise young people at risk. Strengthening partnerships between schools and organisations like Llamau ensures effective, targeted support reaches those who need it most. By acting early, we can prevent homelessness rather than responding to it after the fact.
Family homelessness and its impact on young people
Homelessness is often a family issue before it becomes a youth issue. Upstream Cymru’s research shows that 16% of young people surveyed have indicators of family homelessness risk. Household instability can have a profound impact on education, wellbeing, and future opportunities.
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The power of early intervention
Financial struggles, relationship breakdowns, and housing insecurity affect young people in many ways. Addressing these challenges early, through mediation, parenting support, and financial guidance, can give families the stability they need to thrive.
The role of schools in prevention
Schools are safe spaces for young people, but Upstream Cymru’s findings challenge a common assumption: engagement in school does not necessarily mean a young person is not at risk of homelessness. In fact, 66% of those identified as in immediate need of intervention were still attending school regularly. Without deeper insights, many young people in need could go unnoticed.
Key survey insights:
- Two-thirds (66%) of those at immediate risk of homelessness showed no or low levels of disengagement from school. It was not obvious they needed help.
What schools can do
To ensure no young person slips through the cracks, we need to:
- Train school staff to recognise the subtle signs of housing insecurity
- Strengthen links between schools and prevention services like Upstream Cymru
- Use data-driven insights to inform targeted support and early intervention.
What we have learned: Four years of impact
Upstream Cymru has shown that prevention works. The programme’s pilot phase demonstrated that identifying risks early leads to life-changing outcomes for young people.
Key lessons:
- Prevention saves money: supporting young people early is far more cost-effective than responding to crises later, while also improving long-term outcomes. Mediation services can prevent family breakdowns, a leading cause of youth homelessness, saving over £27,000 per person in specialist accommodation costs.
- Data leads to better support: consistently tracking risk factors allows for more effective decision-making and targeted interventions.
- Collaboration is essential: strong partnerships between schools, local authorities, and charities like Llamau have been key to the programme’s success.
Building resilience and wellbeing
Fostering emotional resilience and wellbeing is crucial in preventing youth homelessness. Young people who have strong support networks and coping strategies are better equipped to handle challenges.
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Key survey insights:
- 60% of pupils felt more optimistic about the future after going through the Upstream Cymru programme.
- 86% surveyed remained at home, whilst 100% of cases were resolved with a safe and positive housing outcome.
Upstream Cymru doesn’t just identify risks—it empowers young people with the support and tools they need to navigate challenges. By intervening early, the programme helps build confidence, optimism, and a sense of stability, ensuring young people feel supported and hopeful about their future.
The future of Upstream Cymru
Upstream Cymru’s impact is clear. So far (and since March 2020), we’ve conducted screenings in 11 secondary schools across three local authorities, surveying over 5,000 young people and identifying more than 750 at risk of homelessness or educational disengagement.
Our goal is to continue expanding this model across Wales, embedding early intervention in the education system, and working with partners to break the cycle of youth homelessness. The evidence is clear: when we act early, we change lives.
An Upstream case study: Ellie’s journey: finding her voice with Llamau
At just 16 years old, Ellie’s life was defined by isolation and uncertainty. Having missed nearly eighteen months of school, she found it difficult to return to education, felt disconnected from her peers, and carried the weight of an unspoken truth about her identity. But with the support of Llamau and her dedicated support worker Russell, Ellie found the courage to embrace her true self and take control of her future.
A difficult start
Ellie was referred to Llamau’s Upstream Cymru – My Way Home project in January 2023 by her school. Her attendance had been so low that she had been placed a year behind her peer group, which made reconnecting with her peers even harder.
Living at home with her mother and siblings, Ellie’s first meeting with her support worker was a reflection of how deeply withdrawn she had become. She sat huddled in a corner, avoiding eye contact, barely engaging.
Fostering emotional resilience and wellbeing is crucial in preventing youth homelessness. Young people who have strong support networks and coping strategies are better equipped to handle challenges.
Her mother explained that Ellie had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and a sleeping disorder, which further contributed to her struggles. Weekly sessions began at home, gradually building trust and rapport. Over time, Ellie started attending school again, eventually managing an average of three days a week and successfully completing her GCSEs.
During these early sessions, her support worker noticed that Ellie constantly wore a face mask, something that had outlasted the Covid-19 pandemic. It became clear that the mask was as much about protection as it was about hiding. As she gained confidence, Ellie eventually stopped wearing it, marking a turning point in her journey towards self-acceptance.
A life-changing realisation
After navigating challenges in education, Ellie faced another setback when her school informed her that she could not continue to sixth form due to the time she had missed. She was then introduced to Llamau’s Education programme, helping both Ellie and her family understand the opportunities it could provide. Though initially hesitant, she soon embraced the environment and started to thrive.
In April 2024, Ellie found the courage to share something deeply personal with her support worker: she was transgender and from that moment on, wanted to be known as Ellie. Llamau’s and her support workers’ response was immediate support and encouragement, recognising this as a pivotal moment in her life. With Llamau’s continued support, Ellie’s progress accelerated. She became more outgoing, resilient, and engaged with the world around her.
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Building a future
With renewed confidence, Ellie independently applied for a place at a media academy to study game development. She was accepted and began attending full-time in September 2024, managing her chronic fatigue syndrome well and maintaining excellent attendance. The independence she demonstrated in taking this step on her own was a testament to the growth she had achieved with Llamau’s support.
By January 2025, Ellie and Llamau agreed that her support had come to a natural end, though they still check in on her progress. Recently, Russell has helped Ellie apply for her driving licence—a small but significant milestone in her journey towards independence.
A new beginning
Today, Ellie is living confidently as herself. She has legally changed her name by deed poll, is surrounded by a supportive network of friends and tutors, and is considering further education, possibly even university. She is vocal about transgender issues and feels empowered in her identity. Her future plans include travel, socialising, and taking the next steps in her transition, including exploring hormonal intervention.
Reflecting on her journey, Ellie acknowledges the profound impact Llamau has had on her life: Quite simply, the involvement of Llamau, Russell, and Learning for Life helped me find my voice and start living as a valued member of society.”
Through patience, understanding, and unwavering support, Llamau helped Ellie navigate a challenging period of her life, enabling her to step into the world with confidence and a sense of purpose. Ellie’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact that compassionate, tailored support can have on young people facing adversity.
Please note the names in the case study have been changed.
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