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Torbay Council face losing millions in government funding if they cannot find a way to assist YMCA Exeter develop affordable homes for looked-after young people
Torbay’s Conservative Council is set to lose millions of pounds in government funding from Homes England if they cannot find a way to assist YMCA Exeter’s proposal to develop affordable homes in Paignton for care-experienced young people.
On Monday 9th December, Torbay Council voted unanimously to accept one proposal to create accommodation for eight young care leavers. But to claim over £4 million of government funding, there needs to be a total of 36 new places for young people to live.
Speaking at the council meeting last night, Councillor Long said:
“It would be an absolute tragedy for this money to have to be returned back to the government. It would be a double failing turning money away and not improving services for young people which will help turn their lives around.”
A previous proposal, which was rejected on Monday 14th October, presented by YMCA Exeter, would have provided 18 homes for local young people in Paignton. These are young people who are moving on from Torbay’s higher supported accommodation, foster placements and supported living arrangements.
Although Torbay Council’s Housing Strategy 2023 to 2030 highlights the affordable housing crisis facing Torbay today, the council voted 4:3 to reject the development over concerns that the properties sat in a core tourism area.
Torbay Council’s Housing Strategy 2023 to 2030 states:
“Torbay has five times the national average of children and young people in care or care experienced, with a 42% increase since 2011.
“There is also an urgent need to create housing stock that provides independent living and move-on accommodation options for our care experienced young people”.
To save over £4 million in funding, the housing projects of 36 units need to be up and running by the end of March 2025. In order for this to happen, YMCA Exeter need Torbay Council to actively help YMCA Exeter establish these additional properties.
YMCA Exeter supports young people coming out of homelessness and traumatic childhoods and needing the support of a loving community to move forward. The wrap-around services provided by YMCA Exeter, with a person-centered approach, create an effective intervention that is life-changing for young people in Devon.
31-year-old Andy Fletcher was in care from the age of eight to eighteen. Today he lives in Stage 4 YMCA Exeter supported housing and volunteers as a YMCA Exeter Ambassador.
“Care-experienced young people often don’t have any financial support behind them, severely limiting future prospects,” explains Andy. “Stable and affordable housing is essential for providing security and giving young people coming out of care a step to move forward.
“YMCA Exeter excels in not only providing affordable accommodation but also emotional and wellbeing support for young people. They look after their residents and care about their welfare.
“I’d honestly be dead without YMCA Exeter: their support, guidance and security. My journey has been about maturing as a person. Today I can look back and see the difference in my life.”
The proposal was declined due to concerns that the development would be detrimental to tourism due to the types of young people that the property would attract.
“The properties we are proposing to develop have seen a 58% decline in trading figures since 2020,” says Si Johns, YMCA Exeter Joint CEO. “We are offering instead the chance for local young people from Torbay to have a home in their own area and to invest in the local economy and society.
“We currently provide supported housing to over 100 young people every year. They work in hospitality, healthcare, social care, accountancy, IT, retail and more. They volunteer and take part in training and development. These are young people who just need a supportive, inclusive and energising community where they can truly belong, contribute and thrive.”
Sidwell Studios in Exeter City Centre is home to 26 young people. The property is run by YMCA Exeter as self-contained studio flats for young people moving on from homelessness.
Police Inspector, Nathan Johnson is responsible for policing in Exeter City Centre:
“Sidwell Studios is situated in an area where local partnerships have created an Anti-Social Action plan to address undesirable behaviour. YMCA Exeter’s Sidwell Studios have not been a cause of antisocial behaviour in the area, in fact YMCA Exeter has been a positive and active participant in playing a collaborative role in addressing wider issues.
“YMCA Exeter worked closely with Exeter City Council, the police and the Designing Out Crime team to bring much-needed regeneration to the local area. As part of the development, there was significant investment in lighting, CCTV, gates and bicycle storage to support the prevention and detection of crime across the whole site.”
On Wednesday 11th December, young people will be gathering at 1pm to plant 469 flags around the Care Leavers Tree at Victoria Park in Paignton to represent the number of Care Experienced young people currently in Torbay.
The tree was planted by Torbay Council to symbolise their “dedication to helping care-experienced young people grow and thrive.”
This visual display of 469 flags will serve as a reminder to the council of their pledge and draw attention to the urgent need for move-on accommodation for young people in Torbay.
Councillor Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, highlighted the urgent need for this accommodation at the council’s meeting last night:
“The conditions are there in place to make sure it doesn’t become an HMO. It is supported accommodation for young people. It is much needed. We are all the corporate parents for nearly 300 children in care and a significant number who have been through the care system.”
Torbay Council still has time to assist YMCA Exeter’s proposal to develop 36 affordable homes in Paignton and show their commitment to care-experienced young people in Torbay.