Who we help
Our Children's Resources Team has specific responsibility to help young people 'in need' who are aged 16-18 and away from home.
By 'in need' we mean
- They are estranged from their family i.e. their parents or previous carer will not have them back or
- If they want to return home they would be at risk of emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
The Children's Resources Team has Community Support staff who work with young people facing these kinds of difficulties and also any care leavers from outside the county who arrive and need help. They work directly with young people to give practical, hands-on support such as arranging somewhere to live, rent guarantees, welfare rights and benefits advice.
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What services are provided?
- Help with arranging accommodation:
This includes emergency or hostel type accommodation and a range of lodgings in the private or voluntary sector. Council run accommodation may also be a possibility.
- Rent in advance scheme:
To encourage landlords to accept young people as tenants we stand as guarantor until such time as they are in a position to pay their own rent
- Assistance with claiming benefits:
Our staff have detailed knowledge of a range of benefits including Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, Community Care grants, Social Fund applications and Disability Living Allowances. They will know what young people are entitled to claim and can help in completing the paperwork.
- Other advice:
This will include how to keep safe and away from people who might draw them into harmful lifestyles, how to get medical and contraceptive help and how to access educational, training and job opportunities.
Community support staff maintain an extensive network of contacts with providers of accommodation, particularly private sector landlords, staff in local authority housing departments, the Benefits Agency, schools and Education Welfare Officers, Career Path, VIP and other training providers.
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Who to contact?
The Community Support staff are part of the Children's Resources Team which is based at
Brooklyn House
196 Kettering Road,
Northampton,
NN1 4BJ
Tel: 01604 620343
Fax: 01604 631990
Drop in any time between 9.30-1.30 on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday
You can also email the Resources Team at:
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