At just 17, Vicki Walsh found herself homeless, unemployed and living in an unsafe situation, unaware that support services even existed. Her first encounter with the system was harsh and disheartening.
"I had no one to advocate for me," she recalls.
Things began to shift when she was placed in temporary accommodation and supported by an outreach worker from Herts Young Homeless. That experience gave her hope and, years later, she had the privilege of working alongside the very person who once helped her.
Her path was far from straightforward. After having two children, Vicki studied beauty therapy but quickly realised it was not the right career for her. One day, standing in her best friend's kitchen, she made a life-changing decision.
"I'm going to be a youth worker," she declared.
That bold choice led her into a career supporting vulnerable young people, and she has never looked back.
Her journey has also been shaped by personal loss. Vicki lost her younger brother just before his 17th birthday.
"When services fail the people you love and nothing changes, it sparks something inside you," she shares.
That experience ignited a passion for justice and a determination to help create services that are compassionate and centred around the needs of the people they support.
Today, as Operations Manager at Hightown, Vicki leads Ofsted-registered supported accommodation services for separated migrant children and young people. She provides leadership across multiple services, overseeing safeguarding, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, workforce development and service improvement to ensure young people receive high-quality support and opportunities to achieve positive outcomes.
Drawing on both professional and lived experience, Vicki is committed to influencing change beyond the services she manages. She is passionate about raising standards, championing trauma-informed practice and advocating for systems that better support vulnerable young people as they transition into adulthood.
One issue she feels particularly strongly about is the shortage of suitable move-on accommodation for care leavers.
"Too many young people reach their 18th birthday without a clear housing plan, despite years of preparation and support," she says. "As a sector, we need to do more to prevent young people being left in limbo at one of the most important transitions in their lives."
For Vicki, supported housing is about far more than providing a roof over someone's head. It is about creating stability, building confidence and helping young people develop the skills they need to live independently and achieve their aspirations.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music and following football. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue learning, mentoring others and influencing positive change across the sector.
As Supported Housing Week highlights the vital role these services play in communities across the country, Vicki's story is a powerful reminder of the difference the right support can make. Homelessness was not the end of her story. With support, opportunity and determination, it became the start of a journey that now helps other young people build brighter futures of their own.
