Community Life Magazine - Bedford Issue 1
Community Life magazine is a fresh approach to showcasing community life. Focussing on local charities, volunteers, wellbeing, local animal shelters, champions of the community. This edition is Bedford - 1st edition.
Community Life magazine is a fresh approach to showcasing community life. Focussing on local charities, volunteers, wellbeing, local animal shelters, champions of the community. This edition is Bedford - 1st edition.
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YOUTH<br />
Put Your Spare Room to Good Use!<br />
It has been a busy yet successful year for the<br />
YMCA <strong>Bedford</strong>shire Supported Lodgings<br />
Scheme. A positive response from the local<br />
community has resulted in the recruitment<br />
and training of twelve <strong>Community</strong> Hosts.<br />
Th ese hosts off er a combination of Supported<br />
Lodgings and Crash Pad placements to homeless and<br />
vulnerable young people across <strong>Bedford</strong>shire. As of<br />
September Supported Lodgings Placements will be<br />
provided to seven young people .<br />
Rosalyn heard of the scheme just as her own grown<br />
up children were moving on. “I was so interested<br />
in the idea of giving a young person a safe and<br />
supportive place in which to settle down and do the<br />
vital things around growing up and making good<br />
choices – those years 16-18 are so important. I also<br />
fancied some company and youthful energy back in<br />
the house!”<br />
Excellent progress<br />
Debbie, a community host, was a foster carer for<br />
many years and wanted to work with the older age<br />
range. “I think there is a real need for this kind of<br />
scheme, promoting independent living skills, giving<br />
good boundaries for young people to live within and<br />
move on in their lives.<br />
“Th e young person who transferred to Supported<br />
Lodgings with me has been here for 5 months now<br />
and all is going well. Th ere have been a few challenges<br />
but she is making excellent progress and I am looking<br />
forward to seeing her achieve even more of her goals!”<br />
Th e young person lodging with Debbie says: “I’ve<br />
been in the scheme for 17 weeks now and it has<br />
completely turned my life around.<br />
“I am now more independent and practical and I feel<br />
happier. It is a scheme that works with you and not for<br />
you. It is also a stepping stone to the big wide world.”<br />
So if you have a spare room, an interest<br />
in young people and being involved in a<br />
community project where you can share your<br />
life experience and skills, please contact:<br />
Amy Elliott on 01234 307040 or 07508807441<br />
or email: amy@ymcabedfordshire.org.uk for<br />
an information pack or informal discussion.<br />
20 Please mention <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Life</strong> when responding to adverts