Ex-homeless girl meets ministers

A girl who was left homeless at the age of 15 after her mother died is to tell ministers about her scheme aimed at helping vulnerable youngsters.

Debbie Wilkie, 17, who lived on the streets of Blackpool two years ago, is to meet Justice Minister Jack Straw and Schools Minister Vernon Coaker.

She got off the streets with the help of the YMCA and is now the managing director of her own company, Earth.

She will give the ministers advice based on her own experiences.

When she was 15, her mother died from a brain haemorrhage. She said her father, who lived in Scotland, did not want to know her, and she was left alone and vulnerable.

They [homeless people] can't argue with me when I tell them what being homeless is like because I have been there Debbie Wilkie

Miss Wilkie said: "It was horrible, lonely and I didn't know what I was going to do.

"I wanted to find my dad, but he didn't want to know us. I was heading towards a life of drinking and taking drugs and I was afraid.

"I couldn't see anything positive happening in my life."

But workers at the YMCA in Fleetwood persuaded her to start at Blackpool and the Fylde College last September and she became involved in volunteering through local youth organisation, LUVU.

With other volunteers she formed the business, Earth, and they now grow plants and sell greetings cards to raise money for Streetlife Trust - a charity for young homeless people which has helped many of Debbie's friends.

'An inspiration'

She added: "They [homeless people] can't argue with me when I tell them what being homeless is like because I have been there.

"Volunteering has helped me to focus on what I want from my life and kept me away from a path which would have ended in drink and drugs.

"I have now got my own place to live and have moved on with my life - and I think my mum would be really proud of me."

Ben Matthews, LUVU director, said: "Debbie is an inspiration and a wonderful example.

"We believe we are delivering a project like no other in the country and we are thrilled and honoured that the Government wants to learn more about what we are doing."