Leaving care with dignity

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I aged out of care with a tenancy offer and a list of appointments. Nobody warned me how empty a flat feels when you have never owned a saucepan.

My personal adviser mentioned SHAX the way you mention something you hope will not be needed. I was embarrassed to ask. I thought “starter pack” meant second-hand scraps people did not want.

What arrived was different. A kettle, cookware that worked, bedding, towels, cleaning basics—packed so I could carry some of it upstairs without a car. It was practical, not pitying.

I remember setting the mugs on a shelf and thinking: this is mine. Not a placement. Not a shared kitchen in a hostel. Mine.

Agencies across Dumfries & Galloway refer young people in similar situations because the gap between “tenancy signed” and “tenancy liveable” is where people slip back into crisis. A pack does not replace ongoing support, but it closes a hole that is easy to underestimate if you have never moved with nothing.

Costs have risen—today a full Emergency Home Starter Pack is often £280 or more—yet clients still pay nothing. That only holds because local donors, shop income, and sponsors keep stock on the shelves at Merrick House.

If you employ young people or work with care leavers, business sponsorship is one way to put your name behind a pack that lands the week someone needs it. Individuals can give by phone or in person.