BACKUP has seven main projects all of which help towards achieving its key aims of empowering young people to live independently in their community; preventing repeat homelessness and sustaining tenancies; responding to emerging needs of young people; enabling young people to improve their social and economic welfare.

Castle House

This service is emergency accommodation for 16-17 year olds and is designed to be a short stay facility.

There are 10 rooms for young people aged 16-17 who are homeless. At the centre is a communal dining room, lounge and games room. Each young person has a private bedroom and shares a bathroom with one other young person.

Chances

A specialist team of support workers offer enhanced support around sexual exploitation, mental health, domestic abuse, education, training and employment. The aim is to get any young person not engaged with any services doing something positive. Based in Farnworth, they support people all across the borough.

Lucas Project

This project has 28 units of accommodation in one site with 24-hour staff and security available. These are starter tenancies to enable the young people to gain independence.

Project Front Door

This is an intensively managed service 24 hours a day for 12 vulnerable young homeless people with high support needs of huge risk factors. These are short term placements designed to offer a foundation for semi-independent living. There are self-contained flats and bedsits within one site with staff onsite who manage the building and offer a structured routine and a programme of support.

Plan B

This is a small service funded by the Tudor Trust as a branch of one of the charity’s projects, which is designed as a very short stay emergency accommodation for 18 year olds who have “burned their bridges” with other housing services. The aim is to prevent rough sleeping and reduce harm.

Supported Tenancies and Lodgings

These are 40+ units of accommodation including self-contained flats and shared houses across the borough. They are fully decorated, furnished and equipped to support independent living.

Residents are supported to move in, manage the property and move on at the appropriate time. The aim is that after a period of time, the young person moves into their own secure accommodation having acquired the skills and the knowledge required to manage on their own.

Whilst the young person lives on the scheme they will be provided with a support package that is designed for them. These are eight units of temporary accommodation in a family or young adults home.

Accommodation (usually a spare room) is provided by that family or individual who are trained and supported to allow young people to live with them. The householder will support the young person on a daily basis with independent living and a support worker will assist to manage the placement.

Trinity House Drop-in

This is a drop-in service for young people living on the scheme. Based at Trinity House, and open between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesdays, and 1pm to 4pm on Fridays, it offers various activities here including arts and crafts, games, group work on budgeting, sexual health and substance abuse, IT suite, pool table and film matinee afternoons.

The aim of this service is to reduce isolation, offer free activities, and enhance support.