New service to support care-experienced young people to find their forever home

By Jill Dando News

The country’s leading children’s charity has launched a new service to help care-experienced young people manage their own home and to live independently.

This new service – ‘South Lanarkshire Futures’ – is funded by, and will operate in partnership with, colleagues from South Lanarkshire Council Housing & Social Work and The National Lottery Community Fund.

Over the next two years, the service will provide an intensive wraparound transition support service to care-experienced young people aged 16 to 26 in care who require an alternative housing solution to what is currently available to.

This support will include the provision of transitional accommodation where Barnardo’s will provide young people with the support and skills they will need to transition from living in care to living independently in the community.

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Linda McCann, Children’s Services Manager at Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “We know that there is a clear connection between care experience and homelessness, and, until now, there has been no dedicated youth housing support service within South Lanarkshire Council. As a result, for many care-experienced young people – some of whom have multiple and complex needs – it’s clear further support is necessary. 

“Statistics tell us that even when these young people do manage to move into a tenancy some do not manage to maintain their tenancy. But Barnardo’s now has the funding required to provide a transition support service within South Lanarkshire to help care-experienced young people who require an alternative housing solution to what is currently available to them.

“We will provide the safety net of a dedicated member of staff (for as long as it takes) who will be a single point of contact for the young person and support them to transition to independence. This stickability and relationship building is key.”

Linda McCann added: “Young people have told us that they find it difficult to organise utilities, attend appointments, decorate, budget, keep their house clean and safe.

“This service aims to improve the lives of our care-experienced young people in South Lanarkshire. We will support them to meet their aspirational goals in relation to their housing needs and assist them to successfully manage and maintain their home.

Kate Still, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be able to support this new service thanks to funding raised by National Lottery players. Through our funding, we aim to help young people thrive by providing access to trusted adults, enriching activities, and community connections, ensuring they have the power to shape their own futures.”

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Barnardo’s runs a similar youth housing programme in North Lanarkshire, called ‘Positive Destinations’. One of the young people supported by that service had this to say: “The reception flat has everything in it I could want, and it feels safe, so I have a space to get my head together. And it’s central to social work and health and in a good area so I feel like I can get what I’ve needed. It’s been nice to have everyone linked into this house to progress my health and housing situation.”

The Barnardo’s purpose is clear: Changing childhoods and changing lives, so that children, young people and families are safe, happy, healthy and hopeful. For more than 150 years, Barnardo’s has been here for the children and young people who need it most – bringing love, care and hope into their lives and giving them a place where they feel they belong.

In the past year, Barnardo’s has provided essential support to more than 11,500 children, young people, parents and carers in Scotland through 150-plus specialised community-based services and partnerships across the country. The charity works to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life.

Over the course of the financial year 2023-24, more than 16,000 people volunteered for Barnardo’s across the UK – a total of 1.7 million hours of their time.

To donate, volunteer or fundraise, please visit: www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money.

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