As we reflect on the year 2022-23, Bardsley Youth Project is proud to share the significant strides we have made in supporting young people in Coventry. With a focus on preventing and alleviating homelessness, we’ve worked tirelessly to empower youth aged 16-25 to secure stable housing, build life skills, and create a brighter future. This blog post highlights our local social impact in 2022-23 through some key statistics, showing just how vital our services are in addressing youth homelessness in Coventry and its complex challenges.
The Scope of Our Support
Throughout the year, we’ve been able to support 130 unique young people who were experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The average age of these individuals was just 21, showing that many young people face homelessness at a particularly vulnerable time in their lives when things are rapidly changing. To meet their diverse and complex needs, our team delivered a total of 606 face-to-face one-to-one sessions, offering guidance on everything from housing applications to wellbeing chats, employment support, and more.
We also welcomed 41 new referrals throughout the year, expanding our reach to even more young people in need. As a result of these referrals, as well as those attending our open door drop-In’s 64 young people received support from us for the first time. These individuals were given a safe space to navigate the often-overwhelming systems of housing and benefits; while receiving the emotional and practical support they needed during their most vulnerable moments.
Building Stability, One Young Person at a Time
Our support doesn’t stop at initial guidance—many of the young people we help require ongoing assistance to ensure they can maintain stable housing and make progress towards independence. This year, 33 young people were actively supported into accommodation, a key step in breaking the cycle of homelessness. In addition, 13 home moves were facilitated, helping young people transition into new homes with essential furniture, moving assistance and positive adult support.
We understand that homelessness isn't just about a lack of housing—it’s about rebuilding lives. That’s why we offer services like our Furniture Bank and Moving-in Support to ensure that young people have everything they need to turn their new accommodation into a home. With 7 days spent in a van collecting donations and moving young people, our team and volunteers go above and beyond to ensure we can provide the practical support that makes our service unique and suited to our young people’s complex needs.
Open Door Sessions: A Place for Support & Social Connection
Throughout the year, 199 attendances were recorded at our Open-door sessions, which provide young people with a space to socialise, engage in activities, and access emergency food, clothing, and hygiene products -as well as guidance and support. These sessions serve as more than just a place to meet basic needs—they also act as a community hub where young people can find others who understand their experiences, building connections and confidence.
Additionally, our Foyer drop-in sessions, Warm space, and Open-Door sessions provided a total of 147 open-door sessions, providing consistent support in various settings.
Beyond Housing: Empowering Young People
Our work extends far beyond simply securing housing. We provide the tools, resources, and guidance necessary for young people to thrive in the long term. In 2022-23, 441 hours of open session time was delivered. 120 young people were supported to use Homefinder to complete or update housing applications and bid for properties. While 481 support calls were made to assist with everything from job applications to managing health & wellbeing needs.
Young parents also received essential support, with 8 young parents benefiting from our tailored services. Many of the young people we work with face the added challenges of parenting, often without the stability or resources. Our team is proud to offer a holistic approach to meet these needs.
A Year of Hard Work and Commitment
Behind every statistic is a team of passionate individuals working tirelessly to create positive change. In 2022-23, our dedicated staff and volunteers delivered 3,936 hours of work, helping young people move toward stable, independent lives.
We are also grateful for the support of our 50 youth-facing partners, corporate partners and funders who help make our work possible. Their ongoing contributions are essential in ensuring that we can continue to provide these vital services to the young people of Coventry.
Looking Ahead
While the numbers from 2022-23 tell a story of hard work and progress, they also highlight the ongoing need for support for young people facing homelessness in our city. The rising cost of living and lack of affordable housing options continue to challenge the young people we support. But with your help, we remain committed to reducing the cycle of homelessness and serial homelessness one young person at a time.
If you’re inspired by the work we’ve done this year, we invite you to join us in our mission. Whether through donations, skills volunteering, partnering or spreading the word, your support makes all the difference. Together, we can walk alongside young people as they build a brighter, more secure future in our city of Coventry.
To access the full report head to : https://www.bardsleyyouth.org/_files/ugd/6b7994_4ad0dfee041c473a97281f503a6f9990.pdf
For partnership enquiries please contact rachel@bardsleyyouth.org