Involving young people

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Involving young people David Chesterton Vice
Chair, Foyer
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Foyer

• Launched 1992
• Partnership between Grand Met (Diageo) and
  Shelter
• Established model imported from France
• Innovative answer to UK homelessness
  integrating learning with accommodation

The Foyer helps to give young people lots of new
and interesting opportunities. For me its a
secure base, a space where I feel accepted but
more importantly, its my home. Jake,
Nottingham

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Supporting

• 10,000 16 - 25 year olds each year -
  homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• Average stay 10 months, maximum 2 years
• Multi-disadvantaged, eg abuse, offending, mental
  health issues, family breakdown
• Mixed-demographics, ethnic minorities, care
  leavers, refugees, offenders
• Must be committed to education and training
  contract with Foyer

After being evicted from a short-hold tenancy I
was homeless and in desperate need of help. The
Foyer gave me the lifeline I needed, offering a
roof over my head and the chance to continue my
A-Levels.


Michael,
Welwyn

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Foyers provide

• Safe accommodation
• Education and training
• basic skills and independent living
• further education / university
• work skills / work experience
• Other services e.g. mental health, family
  mediation, university bursary scheme, social
  activities, volunteering opportunities
• A voice for young people

I was homeless, a victim of abuse, kicked out
from my family home for being gay and was
depressed. The Foyer is now my home where I have
completed my Profile of Achievement and do
freelance event work.

Christopher, Bath

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And it works

• 17 further education / University
• 23 government training
• 24 full-time employment
• 11 part-time employment
• 25 independence / move-on

I was evicted from my flat and was moved into an
emergency hostel. It was an awful place that
smelled of rotting food and unwashed people. Two
months later I am the Foyer Resident
Representative and Im the person that helps make
residents relaxed in our home. John,
Liverpool

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Young people and housing

• One in twenty young people is likely to
  experience homelessness
• There are 60,000 young people under the age of 25
  living in supported housing in England.
• 77,000 young people run away from home every
  year. 80 of this group run away from home due to
  family problems.

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Youth Justice and housing

• Each year 9,000 young offenders are placed in
  unsuitable accommodation, such as bed and
  breakfast or unsupervised tenancies.
• Up to 1,000 young people per year are remanded in
  custody or secure accommodation, at a cost of 5
  million, because they lack somewhere suitable to
  live.

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The policy context

• Supporting People
• Treasury cross cutting review of Children and
  Young Peoples policy
• Youth Matters Green Paper places to go, things
  to do
• Education Maintenance Allowance/Adult Learning
  Grant

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Barriers

• Perceptions of young people
• Mismatch in departmental priorities
• New Deal regulations
• Age 19 cut off

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Why give us a chance?

• Responding to calls from Foyers and young people
• Immediate funding issue
• Involving young people
• Raising profile and projecting a positive image

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What we did (1)

• Young peoples voices at the heart of Westminster
• Website and online petition

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What we did (2)

• Launch campaign in Birmingham
• All Party Parliamentary Group on Foyers

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What we did (3)

• Meeting MPs
• Early Day Motion
• Parliamentary questions

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What weve achieved so far

• Early Day Motion 84 signatures
• Online petition over 700 signatures
• Young people have met with nearly 40 MPs
• Extensive media coverage
• Ministerial meetings