PfP Executive team visit our award winning Young People's Service

The Places for People Executive team holds listen and learn sessions as part of their meetings. This is where they visit people's homes, or schemes and meet people to understand their issues and stay visible and connected to everyone. 

On the 2 October, the team visited our award-winning Young People's Service at Gough Street, Doughty Street and Green Yard. Accompanied by Pam and the team, the PfP Exec team asked a lot of questions about the challenges they faced, and the opportunities for young people and remarked on the synergies with other projects at PfP. 

They also got to meet one of our former residents Zaki, who has recently moved into his own home in Camden, following the support from the team. As Zoe explained, when Zaki arrived he would hardly speak to anyone. To have his support sessions they would have to flag him down on CCTV and go and find him. Slowly but surely they got him to engage and were successful in helping him move into his own home in Camden. 

In a recent review, Zaki explained “ When I first came to Gough Street I was inherently apprehensive and kept a wide berth from staff members and was only present when called upon. Well at some point I evidently decided to lean on staff for both professional and interpersonal difficulties I was facing. Well, quite frankly I am appalled at myself that I didn't turn to them sooner!” 

We have been running the Young People’s Pathway Move-Through Service for Camden since 1 February 2016. Known as the move-through stage it is the final preparation before a young person moves on into their own accommodation. We were successful in 2023 in retaining the contract with Camden for a further five years ( three plus two)  on better terms. We provide support and housing management enabling a joined-up service.

In addition to young people in the care system, we are increasingly working with young people coming into the country unaccompanied by adults. The service works with up to 58 young people, at any one time, aged 18-25. The service is staffed 9.00am to 9.00pm Mondays to Fridays and 11.00am to 4.00pm at the weekends. In addition to this, we employ a night concierge service operating from 8.30pm to 6.00am.

The scheme is largely shared housing and each resident has an allocated Youth Support Worker.

Examples of the support offered are: 

• Support with education and employment
• Managing a tenancy
• Budgeting and money management
• Confidence building
• Health and wellbeing
• Being a good neighbour
• Raising repairs
• Understanding of risk assessments 
• Applying for and maintaining benefits
• Applying for a visa / leave to remain
• Home hygiene
• Health and Safety