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PADSTONES OUR PROFILE |
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Set up in 1992 as the
South Bucks Young Homeless Action Group, Padstones seeks to address the
problems and meet the needs of young, single homeless adults from the general
area of South Bucks and surrounding districts, although we do accept
referrals from all over the south east of England and beyond. We recognise that homelessness is an
ever-growing problem even in this relatively affluent area. Many young adults
are forced to leave home due to factors such as abuse neglect poverty and
relationship problems. They are vulnerable,
chaotic and may have had their education disrupted. They need help and support to prevent them from following a
less appropriate course. Padstones
aims to foster and enhance their dignity, development, and independence and
to relieve hardship, need and distress. Padstones provides
and manages short, medium and long term accommodation through various schemes
and in addition provides a Floating Support service which enables us to keep
in touch with those who have moved into their own accommodation and those who
have requested our assistance in rural or urban fringe areas. We also actively engage with schools and
various organisations in the prevention of homelessness by giving talks and
presentations. There are two
residential units, one in Burnham and one in High Wycombe, with a total of
seventeen beds, which includes emergency beds provision. Residents are interviewed before being
accepted and must agree to abide by House Disciplines, which includes a curfew. Staff ratio is high at one for each two
residents, which allows Padstones to offer 24 hour support. Each resident is
allocated a Keyworker on arrival who then becomes responsible for giving
advice, imparting life skills, literacy and numeracy training advice,
identifying educational and job training opportunities together with much
general support and encouragement.
Family type atmospheres are maintained and most residents move on
after a period of, typically a year for the younger (16 & 17 year old)
people, with a shorter period for those who are somewhat older. Initial move-on
accommodation is available in the shape of three self-contained flats two in
Burnham and one in High Wycombe.
These are occupied by young adults who have proved that they are ready
to enter into a more independent style of living while remaining in close
touch with Floating Support Staff. Padstones’ methods
are necessarily very costly - it currently costs some £1000 a day to maintain
our level of staffing and the properties.
Major grants are made by such bodies as South Bucks District Council,
Wycombe Council, The Housing associations Charitable Trust, National Lottery
charities board together with regular donations from local churches, Parish
Councils, Rotary Clubs, Lions and similar groups. However there is a significant funding gap, which has to be
met from a variety of other funding sources, including individual donations. The charity has been
successful in helping many homeless young people make the transition from
dependence to independence by providing accommodation, education, advice, and
counselling, financial and emotional support. To view our organisation structure, click on
this link: ORGANISATION CHART If you can assist in any way, please contact us
- see our web page |
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