New Roots

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www.newrootshousing.org.uk

new roots

Accommodation with support for young people in Bassetlaw

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Eddie Burgess, Notts County Council Youth Services

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I regularly recommend New Roots to young people and other agencies. I consider New Roots to be one of the best agencies in the county in supporting young people in housing need.

New Roots Housing Project New Roots is a housing project which helps homeless or vulnerably housed young people in Bassetlaw learn the skills they need to live independently. We offer high quality accommodation backed up by individually tailored support plans for people aged 16 to 25. Our young tenants have a say in every aspect of the service to make sure their time with us is an enjoyable and positive experience. We work with a wide range of partner agencies to help our tenants every way we can – from helping them into training or employment to learning how to manage their finances. We are all working towards the same goal – to enable young people to make the transition to successful independent living in

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I was helped brilliantly by the New Roots staff. They helped me with many things, like personal problems, college stuff, and helping me get prepared for independent living. I moved out into my own flat about a year later.

A tenant

their chosen community. Research by an independent

accommodation and move on units to prepare tenants for

consultant shows that 90% of New Roots users go on to

living independently. We also use private rented

maintain a successful tenancy after leaving the project.

accommodation. Applications for New Roots housing have risen year on year. Housing allocations are therefore

Launched in 1993 with just two houses, New Roots has a

determined on the basis of need – no application will be

long and innovative history of helping young people develop

treated less favourably because of race, religion, nationality,

skills and aspirations that will last a lifetime. We now support

sexual orientation or any other critera. We recognise that

over 60 young people within a variety of accommodation

everyone has a unique contribution to make and we

schemes including shared housing, young parents’

challenge discrimination and oppression in everything we do.

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I don’t know where I would have been or what would have happened to my son if New Roots were not able to help me.

I now have a life and career to look forward to as I am currently training to be a youth worker.

A tenant

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I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for an excellent service.

SHARED SCHEME Tenants live in high quality shared housing with their own

Tara Richardson, Social Worker

bedroom and shared living room, kitchen and bathroom. Properties are fully furnished and wheelchair accessible rooms are available. Tenants

scheme may have different support needs and receive between one and five visits each week from a support and development worker. They also have access to the out of hours service. The number and times of visits are agreed in advance with tenants and can be reviewed at any time.

have access to support from a support and development worker on a daily basis, including a 24 hour call out

YOUNG PARENT SCHEME

service should they need it. Many tenants who join the

This scheme offers housing and support for young

Shared Scheme progress into the Move On Scheme to

families. Houses are carpeted, have small enclosed

prepare them for the transition to independent living

gardens and are fitted with a fridge, cooker and washing

outside the project.

machine. Safety features like child gates, fireguards and cupboard locks are also provided. Tenants receive

MOVE ON SCHEME

between one and five visits each week from a support

The self-contained flats and houses that make up the

and development worker. They can also take part in

Move On Scheme are located throughout Bassetlaw.

activities to develop their parenting skills and meet other

They are all carpeted and come with a fridge, a cooker

young parents. We support young parents to return to

and a washing machine. Tenants are supported to acquire

education, training and employment and where necessary

other essential items they need. Young people in this

assist with the securing of childcare placements.

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All the staff I have regular dealings with are polite, professional and united in wishing to secure positive outcomes for young people."

Victoria Marshall, NCHA

FLOATING SUPPORT Floating support helps young people to make the transition from New Roots into more permanent accommodation. It can also help homeless and vulnerably housed young people who are trying to access accommodation and those who are experiencing difficulties in managing their own private or local authority tenancy. Floating support is also offered to our tenants in private tenancies we have set up.

Our tenants are allocated a named support and development worker and we agree an individually tailored and flexible support plan to meet their needs. Tenants of the young parent and move on schemes are welcome to have their partners living with them in New Roots accommodation, although this must be agreed first. We help our tenants to move and acquire furniture, maximise their income through benefit and grant claims, set up utility accounts, manage their finances and understand their rights and

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Excellent service provided - it promotes independence while giving clients skills needed to maintain accommodation. An extremely valuable service to our clients.

An excellent, well managed organisation that works well with key partners

Trudy Walstow Housing Needs

Manager, Bassetlaw District Council

responsibilities as tenants. We support tenants to access

right to be involved in the decisions that affect their lives.

education and employment, resolve disputes and maintain

Our tenants develop their own support plans with the

home security. We refer young people to other agencies

help of our project workers and can ask for a review at

and specialist services and teach them the day-to-day

any time. We aim to foster a sense of responsibility by

skills they need to live independently. Tenants can use IT

working with young people rather than doing things for

equipment at our office and take part in social activities

them. Our Tenant Steering Group encourages young

together. Many of our support activities can lead to

people to be involved in the running of New Roots and

accredited qualifications in life skills from examining

make a difference to the service. Members of the group

body AQA.

offer support to their peers as well as participating in staff recruitment and taking part in accredited training.

At New Roots we believe that young people have the

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I was made homeless due to family problems and I had to seek the services of New Roots. During the two years that I was with the project, I gained my independence. With the aid of support workers, I was able to learn key life skills and live independently.

They also helped me with problems that cropped up from time to time, and helped me work through them.

A tenant

HOW TO APPLY The first step in applying for housing with New Roots is to fill in an application form.

You can do this yourself or someone can make a referral on your behalf. It helps if you can provide as much information as possible, using extra sheets if you need to.

Application forms are available from our website or from our office. If you want to find out more before you apply, you are welcome to contact us for an informal chat by calling in or telephoning 01777 711 059 . We are open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If you need help understanding any of our information or filling out an application form, we can arrange an interpreter or translator to help you.

1st Floor Offices, Chancery Lane, Retford, Notts, DN22 6DF Tel: 01777 711 059 Fax: 01777 704 549 www.newrootshousing.org.uk info@newrootshousing.org.uk

Registered under Companies Act 1985 as a Limited Company. Company name: Worksop & Retford Housing Project Limited Trading as: New Roots Housing Project Charity Registration Number: 1045334

Company Registration Number: 2814950