Beyond a New Year’s Resolution: How Restore Residents Create Lasting Change
We’ve heard the chimes of Big Ben, we’ve watched the fireworks over the Thames, and we’ve sung Auld Lang Syne. Another year has been ushered in and suddenly we’re at the start of January, trying to remember what we do for a living and counting down the days to our summer holiday.
For many people, the start of a new year is a time to reflect and reset, and for lots of us, that means making a new year’s resolution. According to a YouGov poll published last year[1], more than a quarter of British adults made a new year’s resolution at the start of 2025. Among 18-24 year olds, this number was almost double, with 52% of this age group making a resolution at the beginning of last year. The most common resolution was to try to improve personal finances, with 1 in 5 of us making a resolution to either save more or spend less. This was followed by intentions to improve fitness, exercise more, or lose weight. Of those surveyed, 8/10 said they failed to keep some or all of their new year resolutions for the entire year.
Turning over a new leaf is harder than just saying we’re going to make improvements: producing lasting change takes commitment, resolve and determination. The majority of us don’t even bother to make a new year’s resolution and of those who do, only a small proportion succeed. Which is why it is so impressive that so many of our residents in 2025 made the lifestyle changes necessary to move to a life beyond homelessness. Last year, we saw a 70% positive move on rate among Restore residents, and each individual who contributes to that statistic has a story to tell. Whether it is gaining control of finances, finding employment, addressing mental health struggles or combatting addiction, every Restore resident has had to put in that same commitment, resolve and determination to make lasting change in their lives.
We are incredibly proud of every resident who successfully moves on from Restore. The support we offer whilst an individual lives in our accommodation goes a long way towards providing a foundation upon which they can rebuild their lives, but it still takes effort on the part of the resident to address their situation and make the necessary adjustments. Moreover, it’s not as though – once a resident moves into their own place – everything is automatically rosy. The phrase ‘and they lived happily ever after’ is only found in fairytales, and in reality, we are all aware that life comes with peaks and troughs, good times and bad, blessings and challenges.
It’s in those challenging moments that former Restore residents know they can always ask for our help. Our community hubs and peer support groups are open to all who have passed through the doors of Restore. There are often times when a familiar face pops into one of our drops-ins; sometimes just to say hello, other times to get advice or support in how to handle a challenging situation or circumstance. It’s not just about supporting people to a life beyond homelessness, it’s about supporting people in a life beyond homelessness.
As Christians, we also know the comfort of a God who is present through life’s blessings and its challenges. In Deuteronomy chapter 31 we read:
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”[2]
Because we are confident that God never gives up on us, we never give up on our residents either. It is part of how we live out our faith and demonstrate the love of God for humankind. Even residents who leave Restore under less than ideal circumstances are welcome to return and try again, often with a much better understanding of the expectations upon them and a greater determination to put in the work to make their second chance a more positive experience.
If your new year’s resolution has already fallen by the wayside, then don’t worry: you don’t have to wait until 2027 to try again! Follow the example of our residents, who persevere and support one another to achieve their goals. As we await whatever 2026 has to offer – be it blessings or challenges – rest assured that God has gone ahead of you, and He will be with you through it all.
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[1] https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/51150-what-new-years-resolutions-are-britons-making-for-2025
[2] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2031%3A7-9&version=NLT