Date published: 2025-04-03 | Category: Children's Services, Focusing on prevention, Safeguarding, welfare support
Bath & North East Somerset Council is appealing for residents with a spare room and who are willing to support a young person towards independent living to come forward as a supported lodgings host.
The supported lodgings scheme helps young people aged between 16 and 25 who are homeless or have recently left care in Bath and North East Somerset to live on their own.
More hosts are needed to offer a room in their home to young people who live as part of their household and offer the emotional and practical support they need to become confident to live alone in future. This could include supporting them with life skills including budgeting, cooking and cleaning, continuing their education or looking for work.
Supported lodgings placements can last for up to three years, and there are emergency placements of up to four weeks.
There are no set criteria for becoming a host, except that they must have a spare room available and be prepared to support and be an advocate for that young person. Some experience of working with young people is needed, but this could include the host’s own family.
Supported lodgings hosts offer support and guidance to the young person living with them but are not required to fulfil the parental duties that foster carers do, enabling the hosts to maintain full time employment and lead their own lives.
Hosts receive financial support starting from £229 per week to cover rent, support costs and a contribution from the young person. A reduction of 25% in council tax is available and hosts may also be eligible for tax relief via HMRC. The council also offers regular training and support and a dedicated social worker.
Current hosts in B&NES have said that it is a “privilege” to be part of the scheme, with one commenting, “There are difficult moments as you would expect with any vulnerable young person, but the moments of connection, trust and progress make it really rewarding”. Another said: “Currently, having a social worker to support me and my needs, along with regular supervision and review meetings, gives me a sense of being supported and heard.”
Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Our supported lodgings hosts do inspiring work helping young people find their feet and become safe and secure adults who can live on their own. Young people who are homeless or who have left care just need some patience, understanding and commitment from a trusted person who can help them towards that next step of looking after themselves. We welcome anyone with a stable environment, a spare room and a passion for working with young people to get in touch with us.”
Residents can apply to become a Supported Lodgings host and find more information on the council’s fostering website, where people can find out all the different ways they can care for and support children and young people in B&NES.
Read the full list of rewards, benefits, training and support for supported lodgings providers
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