Trainer Tenancies success story

10/07/2020

Cornerstone Housing Ltd and Julian House are delighted with the success of the ‘Trainer Tenancies’ in Exeter and have agreed terms to renew the leases on 4 flats for a further 12 months.  

The project started in June 2018 when Cornerstone was approached by Julian House to help with providing temporary move-on accommodation for young people who had been using their  scheme. The charity places young people who are homeless into trained volunteers’ spare rooms under a scheme called ‘Nightstop’. The young person receives a private room, a warm meal and somewhere safe to stay for the night.

Cornerstone was pleased to help out on a trial basis and the initial leases have been so successful that we have agreed to renew the leases with Julian House for a further 12 months.

A beneficiary of the scheme is Liam (name changed for privacy).  Liam, is aged 26, and had been supported by Nightstop, following he  leaving home due to a family breakdown. He was suffering from depression and anxiety and was one of the first young people to sigh up to a ‘Trainer Tenancy’ in one of the shared flats.

Liam moved in July 2018 and continued to receive support from a Young Person’s Coach. Having a secure home has enabled him to start preparing to get back into full time employment. The YPC supported Liam and other young people living in the trainer tenancy flats. Gradually in time, and with few expected setbacks, Liam is now leading a stable life.  

When asked about the project, Liam said “I feel settled in Exeter and know that the temptation of the life I once lived isn’t there to distract me anymore. I am really keen about working outdoors and my YPC is going to look at different job options for me.”

By renewing the leases, additional Trainer Tenancies can be provided and Julian House can assist more young people in crisis. The pipeline project is making a real difference in Exeter, allowing a greater number of young people to change their lives and progress to independent and stable adulthood.

The renewal leases follows the launch of a national campaign called #HomesAtTheHeart which is campaigning for more affordable homes following the Pandemic.

Tom Woodman Chief Executive of Cornerstone said “ We share the belief that everyone deserves a safe, secure, comfortable place to call home. Therefore we support the call for urgent investment in all types of new and existing social housing”.

Cecil Weir is the Fundraising & PR Director for Julian House said:

“The Nightstop project has been operating for a number of years – keeping young people off the streets at a very vulnerable time in their lives. The support of Cornerstone in proving these flats means has allowed us to build on the existing Nightstop service in a really constructive way – bridging the gap between the very supportive environment of our volunteer hosts’ homes and the demands of independent living.”

He added “News of the partnership extension is fantastic!”