Foyer Update is a monthly feature contributed by the Foyer Federation and written by Sophie Livingstone, Head of Policy & Communications. Any views expressed are those of the author. Email: sophie@foyer.net.
Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People
We continue with our feature series, focusing on different Foyers around the UK. This month we feature the SHYPP (Supported Housing for Young People Project) Foyers in Herefordshire.
Part of Kemble Housing, which is a member of the Bromsgrove-based West Mercia Housing Group, SHYPP manages three Foyers in the market towns of Hereford, Leominster, and Ross.
SHYPP's Foyers offer a stepping stone to young people seeking independence, and provide both shared and self contained accommodation. A core element of the three Foyers is help with accessing training and employment. Part of the condition of any young person wanting housing with SHYPP is that they are prepared to work towards these and other personal and social development goals.
The Foyers offer access to IT suites, which are used to help both residents and other project users develop Information Technology skills whilst having access to learning courses online. The facilities are also used to assist residents looking for work. The aim is to give these young people the chance to catch up and develop their skills in order to become fully independent and thriving adults.
Support staff are based both on site and in an outreach capacity. This ensures that young people receive ongoing support once they have left the scheme. SHYPP employs four outreach workers whose role it is to support homeless young people in setting up a tenancy and understanding amenities and budgeting. They also provide assistance with accessing local services, applying for benefits, and job and training searches. Assistance with move-on and personal & social development (i.e. relationship skills and life skills) is also offered.
SHYPP recently won vital funding from the Football Foundation, funded by the Football Association, FA Premier League and the Government, for a football scheme which aims to help young homeless people turn their lives around. The £7,000 grant over three years will be used to provide free coaching for people in the area who have suffered from homelessness. The aim is to promote fitness, well-being, social interaction and self-confidence. SHYPP's other projects include a lone parent project where, in conjunction with the Primary Care Trust, SHYPP has researched the numbers and (accommodation related) needs of lone teenage parents in the County. Following the findings of this research SHYPP have employed a specialist outreach worker who works with lone parents (aged 16-25 years). The lone parent outreach worker assists young parents to maintain their accommodation and signposts them to other relevant services or agencies.
SHYPP's nightstop project offers emergency accommodation and is one of over 35 Nightstop projects around the Country. Nightstop exists to provide high quality, sensitive and supportive emergency accommodation to homeless young people between the ages of 16 - 25 years.
SHYPP is involved in preventative education, working with the Local Authority - Youth Service and Housing - to deliver sessions to year 11 pupils on housing, homelessness and leaving home, in secondary schools across Herefordshire through the medium of PSHE lessons. By providing information to young people whilst they are still at school, it is hoped that pupils will leave their homes safely and successfully, as well as be better informed about the wider issues around housing and homelessness.
Foyer in Focus is contributed by the Foyer Federation: www.foyer.net.