A FORMER homeless teenager who was in the gutter has managed to turn his life around with support from a Worcester charity and now hopes he can help others do the same.

Nathan Collins became homeless after leaving care, ending up sofa surfing and rough sleeping on the streets of Worcester in January (2015) for a month.

The 19-year-old said: "It's hard. You're trying to find somewhere for every single night and trying not to kip on the streets."

But Nathan could not always find a roof or a sofa to sleep on and spent three nights on the street in Worcester city centre.

He said: "You're scared. You don't know what is going to happen as you settle down for the night.

"I had a sleeping bag but it was cold.

"When you're homeless people don't really pay attention to you.

"They just walk past you. It's like you're not even there."

In was in and around Worcester's night shelters that Nathan first encountered the work of St Paul's Hostel, the charity which he credits with giving him the opportunity to turn his life around, giving him what he called 'a life choice'.

Nathan has now learned catering skills and built up his confidence by working in the kitchen at St Paul's Hostel in Tallow Hill, Worcester.

After staying at the hostel for six months he also has a more permanent place to stay at Sansome Place, Lowesmoor, Worcester, run by Fortis Living.

He moved in last August and receives breakfast, tea and snacks.

Nathan is now back in contact with his mother and says he is receiving more family support than he was before.

He takes part in a creative writing course at the Heart of Worcestershire College and the Creative Group at St Paul's, run by volunteer Gerry Lowman.

He said: "If it wasn't for St Paul's I would probably be on the streets or lying in the gutter."

Nathan has ambitions in the sports field and would like to coach rugby.

He said he would probably have laughed if someone had told him all the things he had achieved in the last yea.

Nathan believes the charity has given him the stability and the support he needs in his life, referring to the help he has received personally from chief executive Jonathan Sutton.

Nathan who was homeless initially in Redditch urged people not to judge homeless people and that often they did not know the issues they were fighting against, including the battle against mental health problems.

Nathan has struggled with depression since he became homeless but said there were other challenges, particularly keeping warm, for rough sleepers.

Nathan said he understood the pressure to drink alcohol or take drugs when you became homeless.

He urged the public to take the opportunity to volunteer at the hostel, including working in the kitchens.

Nathan has prepared 48 meals for people at the hostel at one sitting and said he had learned catering and hygiene skills and gained an insight into the good work of the hostel.

He said: "I do feel my life has turned a corner and I want to give something back, back to the hostel and the community."

Jonathan Sutton, chief executive of the hostel, said: "Nathan's story is all too familiar.

"It's a case of the usual suspects in terms of causes, including leaving care.

"Nathan made the decision that he wanted to do something about his situation and there was an organisation, St Paul's, ready to help him once he had made that decision.

"This underlines the need for appropriately funded homeless services because in the long term they save the Government millions of pounds per year by diverting people away from A&E, the police, the criminal justice system and mental health services."

He also said that Nathan's story was a testament to the strength of his character.

"He has made huge progress and his confidence has come on leaps and bounds" Mr Sutton said.

Homelessness is on the up in the city according to figures supplied by the hostel.

For example 250 men and 29 women stayed at St Paul's Hostel in 2014/15, up from 239 men and 30 women the year before that and 179 men and 29 women the year before that.

Around 85 per cent of the city's homeless people are men.

Hostel staff and volunteers have also been keen to dispel the stereotype of the street drinker with the big bushy beard and emphasise the complex, multi-factorial issues which can lead to homelessness including problems which are sometimes beyond the control of the individuals affected and could potentially affect any one of us.

This can include family breakdown, the loss of a job and mental health problems.

Physical health problems are also an issue, particularly during the winter months.

They can include injuries to the extremities caused by the cold, chest infections and the risks of exposure.

Mental health issues exacerbated by homelessness can include anxiety, depression and paranoia.

Proof of the diversity of the homeless population was provided recently by Robbie Porter, chairman of the board of trustees, who said St Paul's over the 40 years of its existence had provided a bed for a Church of England vicar, a Second World War bomber navigator, an Auschwitz survivor and a journalist.

Mr Sutton directed people to the St Paul's Hostel website (www.stpaulshostel.co.uk) to make a donation or find out out about other ways to help, including by volunteering or writing to your MP.

More detail is provided on the "Want to help the homeless?" section.

Support

Gerry Lowman joined St Paul`s Hostel over 13 years ago as a volunteer initially serving evening meals.

Shortly afterwards she offered to give literacy and numeracy support.

She said: "Most of the residents referred to me by staff have significant learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, and often have had little or no formal education.

"Literacy skills are developed by tapping into individuals` interests and creative ideas and have often led to articles being printed in the Hostel magazine, all of which helps to build the individual`s self- confidence and esteem.

"Having been made aware of the creative talents of many individuals led to the formation of the Creative Group over eight years ago and in the past seven years we have been involved in filming projects, focussing on highlighting the work of the hostel in supporting their desire to move forwards."

* A Creative Group event takes place at St Paul's Church, St Paul's Street on Thursday, December 17 at 5.45pm for 6pm.

It will be be an opportunity to showcase the talent and experiences of homeless people through art, poetry and film.

MP Robin Walker and Sheena Ramsey, managing director of Worcester City Council have been invited to attend.