Bridge For Young People

Bridge For Young People (BFYP) provides specialist, high-quality supported housing alongside practical and emotional support to care leavers and other young people experiencing homelessness, aged 16–25, in West Berkshire.

The majority of the young people we support have already experienced trauma and significant instability during their childhood. They then have to leave care before they are ready, and are often placed in wholly inappropriate accommodation, such as unsafe hostels where drug dealing and violence can be prevalent.

Totally unprepared for independent living, around a third of care leavers experience homelessness, including sleeping rough, within their first two years of leaving care. Homelessness among 18–20-year-old care leavers has increased by 54% over the last five years – 15 times the rate of other young people. A recent Department for Education report also highlighted the devastating inequalities faced by care leavers, finding that young people aged 18–24 who have experienced care are up to 12 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population of the same age.

Bridge For Young People bridge the critical gap between foster care and independent living. Providing family-style supported housing and wraparound support, helping to transform the lives of young people in need.