Katie Mindo

Katie came to Nightstop (part of Depaul charity) has she had been homeless for a year and rejected and abandoned by her family. She had no food, home, food, money or family. Having suffered rejection, homelessness, hunger and rape, she then found Nightstop who in her words saved her life. 3 years on, Katie is now excelling in every aspect of her life. Her list of achievements is exceptional. She has completed all 3 of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, she has just received a promotion to Co-ordinator for Catch 22 youth service, received the Prime ministers Award for National Civic Service, she has met with Tim Loughton, The Parliamentary Undersecretary for Children and Families and serves on his Young People's Advisory Board and through the National Citizens Service Award, she has been selected to travel to El Salvador this October to work for 10 weeks as a developer for youth groups in local communities. Katie says 'The whole course of my life changed because of Nightstop. I didn't think I would live to my 22 birthday but here I am, almost 25 and I wake up each day and cant believe how far I have come. Nightstop listened and cared. They saw the real me before I saw myself. They literally saved my life and I will do anything I can to pass that on to others, to show other young people that with someone there, believing in you, you can make through'. Nightstop is a charity providing emergency accommodation young people. Katie's story is touching and a great reason to nominate her.