Maidstone Housing Trust to offer new support service for young parents
Teenage parents in Maidstone will have access to a new housing related specialist support service from April 2009. Maidstone Housing Trust has been awarded the contract to run the service by Kent County Council’s Supporting People team.
The service will be the first of its kind in Kent, and aims to provide practical support to young parents in the county town.
Rose Ellison, Head of Support Services for the Trust, welcomed the news, saying “We are delighted to be the first to bring this service to the young people of Maidstone. Sadly we have a high rate of teenage pregnancies in the town, and it’s important to make sure these young people have access to the support they need to lead happy independent lives. We already offer services to vulnerable and older people in their own homes, and this is a great extension of that.”
The support on offer will assist young parents to better manage their daily life such as help with setting up their new or first home, budgeting and debt management, claiming the correct benefits, understanding childcare arrangements and getting back to work, education or training as well as engaging with other services and health professionals.
To be eligible for the service you need to be under 25 years old and a referral form needs to be completed and sent to the Supporting People Team at KCC. This can be done by the person needing the support, by someone on their behalf or by a member of our support team. If you require any more information please give us a call on 0800 923 2700.
date published: 05/03/2009