Naomi Brown grew up in an abusive household, spending years in “survival mode” before she was made homeless at the age of 17.
Naomi with her young son(Image: The Open University)
An Aberdeen mum who was homeless as a teenager is helping to transform mental health support in the city by launching a pioneering youth programme alongside her organisation’s current mental health services.
Naomi Brown, who founded Fulfil-Ment Aberdeen almost six years ago, is preparing to launch the Zen Den for Kids on 11 February 2026.
The initiative will provide a safe space for children aged 12 to 17 in the Granite City, offering activities including games, film screenings and structured support aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour in the city.
The new initiative has been supported by Naomi’s alma mater The Open University in Scotland’s Open Enterprise Network and follows successful pilot sessions run in partnership with Aberdeen City Council’s Youth Horizons Project last year.
Naomi was asked to leave school herself at 16 and experienced homelessness at 17. She grew up in an abusive household, spending years in what she calls “survival mode.” Just 14 years ago she was living in a bed and breakfast with only a suitcase of belongings.
Naomi hopes her new initiative will provide crucial support during a critical age when many young people face challenges like those she experienced.
“I was labelled as one of those no hoper children growing up,” Naomi said. “But I had always had a passion for education. I just hadn’t liked the learning style of being at school while everything was going on at home.”
Her grandfather, a teacher, inspired her to pursue higher education. After dropping out of a traditional campus-based university in her early twenties, Naomi discovered The Open University’s distance learning model a few years later.
“It changed my life,” she says simply. “The model and the structure of how The Open University was laid out just really fitted and ticked every box.”
Naomi’s graduation ceremony from the OU in Scotland(Image: The Open University in Scotland)
Despite facing imposter syndrome, limiting beliefs and becoming seriously unwell with Covid during her final year, Naomi completed her business management degree with honours. She now uses that foundation to run a thriving mental health and wellbeing practice whilst training as a psychotherapist.
The Open University in Scotland’s Open Enterprise Network has been instrumental in helping Naomi develop the youth arm of her business. She attended face-to-face innovation events and accessed resources that helped her structure the Zen Den as a potential social enterprise.
Naomi continued: “The network was really useful for helping me to spin off Zen Den and working out what that structure should look like away from a typical bricks and mortar business. Having resources popped into my mailbox regularly certainly opens up further channels to know what’s out there and how you can be supported.”
The Open University in Scotland is increasingly supporting entrepreneurs who are building businesses alongside work, caring responsibilities and life commitments. Its model enables students of all ages and backgrounds to study and apply learning in real time.
In Aberdeen Central, the Open University is supporting 295 students, 69% of whom are in employment and 21% don’t have traditional university entrance qualifications. The Open Enterprise Network, launched in 2024, provides a community support system of networking events, business development opportunities and connections to existing support mechanisms across Scotland.
Jane Grant, Depute Director of External Engagement and Partnerships at The Open University in Scotland, said: “We work with employers, learners and entrepreneurs in every part of the country, including some of the most remote communities. What we see time and again is that small and even micro businesses are not an optional extra. They are economic essentials, providing employment, services and stability in areas that need it most.
“Around three quarters of our learners in Scotland are already in work, and many are building businesses on the side, not from incubators but from home offices, farms or community spaces. These are the entrepreneurs that Scotland needs to nurture and, as a university, we are perfectly placed to help these brilliant businesses to thrive.”
Naomi’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is straightforward: “If it scares you, you’re on the right path. Procrastination and hindsight are not your friends. If you’ve got an idea, speak about it to someone like The Open University in Scotland. Start throwing it out there into the universe to make it an actual thing. We all have potential to be what we want. But potential is not enough. You need to create action within that dream space as well.”
The Open University in Scotland is planning a mix of online and in-person events throughout 2026 to support student enterprise, building on the success of initiatives including an entrepreneurship boot camp for women that included childcare funding and transport support.
Jane Grant added: “We felt like we had awoken a sleeping giant. We’ve found so many people either thinking about starting their own business or already doing it. These people were just getting on with it, as entrepreneurs do, but now they are aware of the support mechanisms we have in place.”