New accommodation next to a secure children’s home in County Durham has been opened to give young people in care a stepping-stone to independent living.
Durham County Council has built the £1 million home, Maple House, directly alongside its existing Aycliffe Secure Centre in Newton Aycliffe.
Staff will care for up to four 12 to 18-year-olds once they are ready to move out of the centre, providing support and guidance to help them into the community.
Read more: Aldi store in Newcastle set to move to West Denton Retail Park
Councillor Ted Henderson, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Maple House will provide children and young people living in the secure unit with a stepping-stone to living safely in the community.
“Without a facility like this it can be a much more difficult transition for them to make, especially if it involves moving to an unfamiliar area and having less contact with their support network. And that transition phase can be a tough one to negotiate.”
Read next:
- Police called after urban explorers get into Wet n Wild North Shields
- Blyth officers mauled by dog while being punched by man during arrest
- Woman helps man and dog keep warm in Darlington during middle of night
Aycliffe Secure Centre, which is rated “good” by Ofsted, provides accommodation for up to 34 young people, many of whom have complex needs and require intensive support.
Durham County Council secured around £900,000 from the Department for Education towards the cost of the Maple House project.
Cllr Henderson said: “Having Maple House means we can help children and young people bridge that gap.
“They will receive social care and health support and can access school, college or apprenticeships, while living in a familiar place, and with support and a guiding hand from our staff who they have come to trust.
We have a new ‘flash sale’ running from today until the end of the month on Wednesday, May 31.
You can spend £2 for 2 months (monthly) or save 20% and pay £63.20 annually.
Find out more here
“It enables us to offer greater continuity for children and young people who have spent time in secure services while we help them plan their next steps back into a community setting, whether that’s a move to a longer-term home or a return to their family.
“Our staff are highly trained to provide a nurturing, consistent and safe living environment in which our children and young people can feel loved, safe, secure, listened to and valued.
“Having that close contact with them also means we can help them to make positive choices that keep them safe and well as they transition to more independent lives.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here