Bath Street Youth Project
Herefordshire Council commissions services to support and help the most vulnerable people within the county. These services provide vital support to a wide range of individuals across the county and offer the help they need to move on into long-term accommodation and provide them with the skills to live successful and independent lives.
Helping our young people
Bath Street Young Person's Scheme (Connexus)
Bath Street Young Person's Scheme, owned and managed by Connexus, has 16 bed spaces in high quality apartments for care experienced and vulnerable young people aged 16 to 25. There are trained staff on hand, 24 hours a day and they offer support tailored to the needs of each individual.
The scheme is modern, comfortable and lively, with expert staff working closely with each young person to ensure that they are safe and help them to deal with any issues and challenges they face. Connexus provides training - both directly and through external organisations - on becoming tenancy ready, budgeting, employability, sexual health, support for LGBTQ+, self-advocacy and more. The young people also have the opportunity to go on residential trips through the Foyer Federation, which aims to inspire and develop the talent of young people who have experienced homelessness.
As well as safe individual spaces for each young person, the scheme has use of a larger facility with a communal kitchen for cooking together, a pool table and training rooms. Connexus is planning on extending the communal kitchen and using the garden area for the young people to grow their own vegetables.
On average, young people living in the scheme are there between 6 and 18 months, depending on the level of support they need. Once they move on, they are able to continue to receive outreach support, also provided by the Connexus Team. Two young people who will soon be moving on said that they feel much more confident due to the support they had received through the Bath Street Young Person's Scheme.
Odyssey House and Angel Place (CCP)
The service is a safe and welcoming facility for care-experienced young people between the ages of 16 and 25. Located in Hereford city centre, the scheme has capacity for up to eight young people who benefit from a person-centred support service, tailored to their individual needs.
The scheme is managed by a team of professional staff thorough Caring for Communities and People (CCP), a registered charity that helps vulnerable people into sustainable independent living, and offers a 24 hour service to the young people.
The eight self-contained flats provide residents with their own living space with kitchen and bathroom. Odyssey House also offers bright and modern communal areas and external spaces where residents can engage with group activities and training sessions, including cooking on a budget, Sunday roasts and BBQ events.
The support on offer can start at the basics of how to shop on a budget and manage your money, support on dealing with their post and paperwork, help with claiming benefits, through to supporting young people into higher education, college opportunities and helping with bursaries. The staff are happy to accompany residents to meetings and interviews to help build up the young person's confidence and ability to learn to live independently.
The residents also benefit from many other activities, including Outward Bound activities in Snowdonia, trips to theme parks, Cadbury's World and at the local cinema and snooker centre.
Young people are supported in a way that helps individuals to reach their full potential, while also ensuring that they have a safe and secure home environment, while continuing their journey into independent and successful lives.