Our Services

When the Project started in 1972, the service we provided was simple and straightforward: a roof over the heads of vulnerable, homeless young people. In those days, the Project, located in a building that had previously been a commercial hotel, was staffed by volunteers who did what they could to help the young people stay safe and sort out their lives.

Since then the Project has significantly increased the intake of young people who have found themselves homeless. The Project now employs full-time and part-time staff who between them provide each resident with a high standard of support, advice and guidance. Our staff have received training that equips them to build trusting relationships and give the young people the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to manage independent living. Staff support young people to access key services such as health, housing, education and training. Staff provide formal and informal sessions and accredited programmes on-site, this enables young people to manage their finances, access college courses, and seek medical help when needed. In addition, information, support and advice are provided with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing relationships understanding and managing risks etc.

More recently we have extended our services to reach particular groups of young people who have particular needs. For example young parents and baby; and unaccompanied young asylum seekers seeking sanctuary from conflict zones.

We are finding that increasingly young people who come to the Project suffer from mental health problems and other health-related issues. We are therefore seeking to appoint a part-time counsellor to whom a young person can talk in confidence and who can give them some tools and strategies for overcoming the issues and concerns they face and, where necessary, direct them to more specialist support services.

More than ever it is becoming clear that the young people we support have complex, inter-connected and wide-ranging needs – far more than simply a roof over their heads. It is important to understand and take account of the history and concerns that have led to the young people being so vulnerable, and patiently help them build the confidence and skills so that they can learn to deal with their feelings more constructively and develop the emotional intelligence we all need to make the most of our lives.