Four young people in Weymouth have moved into a new supported living service in the town designed to allow them to live more independently. 

The new initiative forms part of Dorset Council’s Transitions service, which oversees the care and support of eligible young people aged between 14 and 25.

It aims to enable a more seamless move from children’s services into adult services.

Cllr Gill Taylor, cabinet member for housing, welcomed the initiative, saying the young people were being helped to engage with employment, volunteering, education and learning as well as leisure and social opportunities.

She said: “This service enables our young people to gain confidence and live independently in their own community.

“In time, it encourages them to move on to more permanent accommodation to enable more young people to benefit.”

The young people will be supported by experienced Care Dorset colleagues in developing a range of life skills, including financial management, washing, cleaning and cooking at the property in Dorchester Road.

This is all designed to help them to prepare for life in their local community.

The young people are aged between 20 to 24 and have not signed a traditional tenancy agreements but have agreed to a flexible and informal licencing deal, with licences running for up to two years.

As they become more independent, the ambition is for the young people to move into conventional accommodation, freeing up the space at Dorchester Road for other young people to move in and benefit from the bespoke support.

Cllr Clare Sutton, cabinet member for children’s services, said the service was an example of how Dorset Council was developing its offer to Care Act eligible young people.

She added: “The service, which is designed to ensure our young people thrive in their local community, is a key component of our new Birth to Settled Adulthood Service.”

The property was acquired by Advanced Housing in 2023 which then refurbished the building, in collaboration with the children’s services and adults and housing services at Dorset Council.

Advanced Housing is registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and a Registered Housing Provider.

It provides housing, support and other community related services, specialising in supporting people with learning difficulties and mental health conditions.