The Foyer Federation

🎄Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year from the Foyer Federation! 🎁

We welcome the extra investment from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government into addressing homelessness and are encouraged by their commitment to not only provide immediate relief but also tackle the root cause. While we applaud extra support for families and to tackle rough sleeping, we were, however, disheartened to see no specific mention of young people in their announcement. Last year, over 136,000 young people aged 16-24 presented as homeless in the UK. Circumstances that lead to youth homelessness vary, with a breakdown in familial relationships a top cause, and we know that providing quality housing pathways alongside coaching and support prevents entrenched homelessness in young people’s futures. We will be paying close attention to how funding is allocated at a local and national level. A joined up approach that both provides immediate relief and proactively breaks the cycle is important - and providing high quality options for young people at an early stage should be a key piece of this, alongside investment in preventative measures further upstream. https://lnkd.in/eFQ4HhAP

"Our Youth Power Fund Project is called the Robin Hood Project because we are redistributing the access of power to people who may have not had the experiences before." With support from The Blagrave Trust, our Youth Power Fund was established to fund new thinking and innovation that embeds sustainable youth leadership and shifts the balance of power in favour of young people who live in youth supported housing. We funded six Foyers' proposals for youth-led approaches. As we reach the end of the three year fund, we're reflecting on the impact this project has had. Hear from one young person about the experience in their own words. https://lnkd.in/eM7vbU2J

We're looking for a new Digital Learning and Projects Coordinator! Are you a detail-oriented, motivated and focused professional? A digitally savvy person with a passion for learning? In spring 2025, we'll be launching our exciting new learning management system - the Advantaged Thinking Learning Community (ATLC) - to provide a space for young people to thrive, learn and collaborate. We're looking for a passionate Digital Learning and Projects Coordinator to nurture the ATLC, coordinate our network activities and help us grow a national community of learners. Application Deadline: Midday 13th Jan 25 Hours: 35hrs p/w Salary: £28-32k based on experience Status: Permanent Location: Home-based with some travel Find out more and apply at https://lnkd.in/ehr9rAc2

At the Foyer Federation, we welcome the government's decision to develop a National Youth Strategy with young people's views at its heart. In their announcement, Lisa Nandy hit the nail on the head: 'For too long, the nation's young people have been deprived of a meaningful seat at the table in the decisions that directly impact their lives.' Across the youth supported housing sector and the wider youth sector, we know the importance of holding space for young people's views and, in recent years we have prioritised listening to young people and rebalancing power within supported accommodation (see our Youth Power Fund impact report here https://lnkd.in/ewVwpbA9). Foyers are, at their very core, strengths-based organisations, with deeply embedded Advantaged Thinking mindsets, and one of our biggest strengths is the lived experience of the young people we serve. But without this top-level buy-in, our vision of seeing all young people who can't live at home realising their power and purpose in life can't happen - so the commitment from the government to co-produce this national strategy with the young people it affects offers genuine hope, not just for the Foyer Federation, but for the sector and for young people across the board. There is serious work to be done - the resource required to deliver on any meaningful national strategy should not be under-estimated. There are challenges ahead but we'll be paying very close attention and taking every opportunity for young people who can't live at home to input. In the coming weeks, we'll also be launching our next organisational strategy, with ambitious plans to amplify the voices of young people and Foyers. The views of young people and the organisations that serve them have never been more relevant and it's our mission to make them heard. https://lnkd.in/eCZHvNEb

Exciting new Role: The Foyer Federation is on the lookout for a dynamic Network and Learning Co-ordinator to join our team! If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people and want to drive collaborative learning across a network of inspiring organisations, this could be the perfect role for you! 👉 If this sounds like you, or someone you know, please apply or share with your networks! https://lnkd.in/gKuCJj9b Let’s spread the word and connect with talented individuals ready to create lasting impact. #JobAlert #Hiring #NetworkManager #LearningAndDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment #FoyerFederation #JoinOurTeam

At the end of September, the Foyer Federation brought together leaders from across the youth homelessness and housing sector for our Connecting Leaders event. Our guest speaker Phil Kerry, CEO of the New Horizons Youth Centre, shared his expertise through a powerful talk called: "Six lessons from six years of mayhem”, while Leadership Coach Emily Lomax dove into what it truly means to build a highly engaged team. Cross-sector housing leaders also shared their perspectives, outlining what an engaged workplace looks like. Here’s what they said: 💪 Commitment and motivation: Employees who are committed and motivated are at the heart of engaged workplaces. Teams that understand the “why” behind their work, and align with the organisation’s purpose, tend to feel more driven and focused. 🏅 Recognition and value: All individuals should feel valued. When people know their work matters, they are more likely to stay engaged and continue to contribute. 🙋♀️ Active participation and empowerment: Engaged workplaces are places where everyone participates and feels empowered to influence decisions. Team members should feel able to contribute and be confident that their voices are heard. Find out more by visiting our website.  #YouthHousing #EmpoweringYouth

Today we’re excited to run an event with our partner SNG and their #iwill Youth Network team. 🙌 Our meeting aims to facilitate connection between network members, increase the confidence they have in delivering their work, and support impact growth. 🏋️♀️ The session will be about Powering Up Youth, sharing our learnings and facilitating reflection and discussion within the group about how we listen to, involve and share decision making with young people. 🗣️ We'll hear from two young leaders about their experiences and suggestions for how to do this work well. “We’re so pleased to have partnered with The Foyer Federation on such an impactful strand of The SNG #iwill Fund, our SNG #iwill Youth Network,” said Ellie Cutler, SNG’s #iwill Fund Project Officer. Find out more by visiting our website.

Foyers are facing an increasingly tough environment amid new regulations, ever-tighter budgets and increasing levels of support required by young people. Through it all, staff continue to deliver high-quality transformational services for young people. Foyers from our membership responded to our survey in February this year to tell us about their successes, challenges and key learnings. Here’s what our members are most proud of: ☔ “We have continued to provide a high-quality service in a challenging climate.” 🏋️♀️ “We have given more power to the young people to make decisions about the Foyer.” 💯 “The staff are still giving 100% to the young people.” Read the full survey responses by clicking on the link in the bio 👆 #SocialHousing #YouthHousing #EmpoweringYouth

Last year, 136,000 young people were forced to register as homeless with their councils. That’s why we’re calling on Rushanara Ali, MP for Building Safety and Homelessness, to help end the spiralling crisis of youth homelessness. Along with more than 140 charities, we’ve written a letter to call on the new government to adopt a cross-departmental strategy to end youth homelessness, and a bolder, youth-specific response. ✉️ Read the full letter here and find out more about the campaign by clicking the link in our bio. #PlanForThe136k #EndYouthHomelessness