Date published: 23 May 2019
Exeter Foyer, on Commercial Road, Exeter, supports some of the most disadvantaged young people in the community. It offers an integrated solution to housing, personal development and the training needs of its young residents. The foyer is run by Stonewater - one of the UK’s leading social housing providers.
As well as meeting the dedicated staff at the Foyer, Ben Bradshaw met with a number of residents at the Foyer, who provided a tour of the building and its facilities. It was an opportunity to discuss some of the challenges young people face with residents and the foyer’s Project Coordinator, Steve Lawton.
Exeter Foyer has thirty-six rooms for young people aged 16-25 years old, with a mixture of bedsits, two and three-bedroom shared flats. It also has a communal lounge including IT access to the Internet. While staying at the Foyer, residents are supported to engage in employment, education and training opportunities, either on their own or as part of a group and benefit from a variety of activities including music workshops, physical activities and wellbeing sessions.
Coaches at the foyer provide advice and guidance to help the young people with work, training, and educational needs as well as developing the necessary skills for independent living. This helps them gain independence and enables young people to become economically active members of the community.
Helena Doyle, Head of Supported Housing at Stonewater said: “It was great to welcome Ben to Exeter Foyer to see first-hand the important work that our team here do on a daily basis. Supported housing is at the heart of Stonewater’s business and is a vitally important part of what we do. Steve and the team at Exeter Foyer are dedicated to supporting young people at a time when it is most needed.
“I hope Ben found the visit useful, and that he will continue to take an interest in the issues affecting young people, how Stonewater can help support their ambitions, and that we can work together to provide these vital services in the long term.”
Ben Bradshaw MP said: “As a Member of Parliament, housing support issues are one of the most common matters I encounter at my surgeries and through constituent correspondence.
“I was pleased to witness the work Stonewater is undertaking in Exeter, particularly in their work with young adults in the community.”