A housing scheme in Chester has celebrated 15 years of helping young people.
Your Housing Group’s Bridge Foyer, in the Garden Quarter, has offered accommodation for more than 700 young people aged between 16-25 years old since 1999.
They provide a safe environment with access to training and employment opportunities, and equip young residents with life skills to gain independence and achieve their goals.
Many residents enter a foyer with little or no idea of what they want to do with their future, some having had some very troubling experiences, and over the past 15 years
Operations manager Adam Melia said: “Bridge Foyer has been providing vital services for vulnerable young people in Chester since 1999. The foyer not only provides a safe and secure place to live, but additional support in building life skills such as budgeting and cooking, and support in pursuing education or employment.
"Over the past 15 years some truly inspirational young people have passed through our doors, and we are so happy that we have been here to provide them with the support and guidance they needed to go on to achieve their life goals.”
The anniversary celebrations have come under a cloud of uncertainty as the future of the centre is at risk.
A consultation, ending on March 13, on is looking at the future commissioning of Supported Housing in Cheshire West and Chester.
Adam added: “This is a very uncertain time for everyone at Bridge Foyer, both staff and residents. We provide a much needed role for these young people, and help them to overcome troubled background to become independent young adults, actively working towards education and employment. Without safe, secure schemes like Bridge Foyer there wouldn’t be the same level of support for some of our most vulnerable young people.”
Case studies of Bridge Foyer residents (surnames not provided)
- Current resident Mike, aged 21, has lived at Bridge Foyer for six months. He moved to the foyer after a family breakdown. Since being there he has completed a Prince’s Trust course to get young people back into training and education at Chester Fire Station, and is now applying for outdoor activity group leader roles. To assist him in fulfilling this goal Mike has received a young person’s bursary from Your Housing Group to help him buy outdoor clothing and boots.
- Jason came to live at the Foyer in September 2011 when he was just 16 after he had been excluded from the family home. Due to abuse issues in the past Jason found it almost impossible to engage in group work or to trust the staff. With a lot of patience and support Jason’s default reaction became less combative, and he gradually shared more information and spent more time with staff discussing ideas he had for the future. Jason is now attending a foundation training course four days a week and is looking forward to continuing with a sports and leisure course starting in a month’s time.
- Jo, now aged 21 is an ex resident of Bridge Foyer. Jo’s mum died when she was just six-years-old. She lived with an aunt until aged 15 but after this relationship broke down Jo entered foster care until she was 19, which is when she moved to Bridge Foyer. Jo’s ambition is to become a social worker, and whilst at Bridge Foyer she received a 2:1 degree in Health & Social Care. Jo is now living independently in her own flat in Chester and will start her masters degree in social work in September.
