The Minister was given a tour around Focus by David Chesterton, managing director of East Potential, which manages Focus and four other foyers in East London, as well as a range of other services that aim to give young people a chance to succeed. They were joined by Jane Slowey, chief executive of the Foyer Federation, which promotes the work of foyers across the UK.
Focus E15 was opened in 1996 and provides accommodation and support to up to 210 young people at a time. The residents who live there are aged 16-24, and stay for up to two years, engaging in tailored support and training programmes that aim to help them break the ‘no-home, no-job cycle'. The Minister's tour included Focus's new media suite, which opened last year, which enables residents to engage in media and arts projects and develop their technology skills. The Minister was also shown Focus' facilities to support young parents with children.
While on the visit, the Minister announced that the Government would be investing in 12 local authorities, including five in London, to be trailblazers in providing a greater range of advice to people looking for housing, with some moving towards a 'one stop shop' approach of personalised advice and links to employment opportunities and training. Each will get up to £350,000 to create these advice services which are tailored to the needs of their local area and local clients.
The Minister was introduced to several foyer residents, including Joseph Chege, age 19, who has lived at Focus for nearly two years. He is currently taking part in a gym instructor course and aims to either go on to university or complete a personal trainer course. Joseph says: "The support I have had from the staff at Focus has really helped me to turn things around. Lots of young people don't get offered this kind of help, and often end up in all kinds of trouble. I thought it was great to be able to meet a Government Minister and tell her about the progress I've made since being at Focus and the important work that the foyers do."
Caroline Flint, Minister for Housing, says: "It's been great to meet with the young people of the "Focus E15" and see first hand how training and support is helping them break out of the ‘no-home, no-job' cycle and achieve long-term independence. We want opportunities like these to be available to people of all ages, which is why we're announcing today that twelve councils will receive funding to become one-stop shops for training, employment and housing advice."
David Chesterton, East Potential managing director, says: "You only have to speak to our residents to realise the difference that our foyer services make to young people's lives. It was great to have this recognised today by the Minister. We are already expanding our work, with the opening of a new foyer in Barking later this year, but there is so much more to do when it comes to supporting and engaging the young people of East London and Essex. I hope this visit will pave the way for greater investment in services like these that aim to give young people a chance to succeed."
