A call for more residents to provide vulnerable young people with a safe and supportive home environment they may never have had before in their lives is being made by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Residents who think they could welcome a young person into their family and help them develop independence and life skills are being asked to consider joining the council’s Supported Lodgings Scheme as a provider.
The scheme is for 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or leaving care, who need a stable family home where they can develop the skills they need to live on their own in the future.
Supported Lodgings providers are trained and given ongoing support by the council’s social care team, along with a weekly fee, in return for a room in their home and supporting the young person as much as they can.
Families, people living alone and people employed or not employed are equally welcomed to become providers. They do not need to own their home but must have a clean and comfortable room available.
Councillor Kevin Guy, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Most of us are lucky enough to take a warm and welcoming home for granted, but for young people who are homeless or leaving care, that may be something they have never experienced. Our Supported Lodgings scheme improves people’s lives by not only giving them their own space in a stable home, but by providing an adult who has the kindness and patience to guide them towards independence.
“We’ve had many successes with the scheme and have seen young people thrive and become independent adults after leaving our care, but sadly we still have vulnerable teenagers who are waiting for their chance to get their lives on track with basic accommodation and one-to-one nurturing. I’d urge anyone who thinks they could further a young person’s life chances by giving them a supportive home to get in touch with us.”
Supported Lodgings differs from fostering as the focus is on developing the young person’s independence, not providing constant supervision and care.
One Supported Lodgings provider who says he has found being part of the scheme ‘incredibly rewarding’ is Chris Tatchell from Twerton in Bath. He lives alone and has supported several teenagers through welcoming them into his home, the most recent staying with him for three years before moving on to more independent accommodation.
Chris said: “I know from my involvement with youth clubs that many young people are affected by family breakdowns. I was living alone in a big house when I saw a Supported Lodgings advert and thought, ‘We all need to look after each other’, so I approached the council.
“I had in-depth training and was then approved to become a Supported Lodgings provider. The placements of teenagers I’ve had have varied in length, but the recurring theme is that they are all suffering with the trauma they’ve experienced. I’ve just tried to be positive and accommodate their needs. What’s normal to me may not be normal to them, so I’ve always aimed to help them understand different ways to approach things and foster a relationship of trust.
“I just want to make a difference by giving young people a platform of certainty and a stable period in their lives. There’s always someone on hand at the end of a phone from the Supported Lodgings team if there are any issues, but for me it’s been incredibly rewarding and at times I’ve felt like I’m sitting down with my own children.”
The Supported Lodgings scheme will celebrate its 15th anniversary this summer. It has supported around 140 young people across Bath and North East Somerset and has received over 300 referrals.
Providers receive around £170 per week and residents within Bath & North East Somerset also benefit from reduced council tax. They are given ongoing support, supervision and training. More information can be found at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/housing/find-home/supported-lodgings
Anyone interested in becoming a provider is invited to email supported_lodgings@bathnes.gov.uk or call the team on 01225 396312.
