Open your home and provide a room for a young person leaving care

Supported Lodgings

Do you have a spare room and want to make a difference to a young person leaving care? Supported Lodgings could be a great option.   

Supported Lodgings helps young people aged between 18-25 by providing them with a safe, nurturing home environment. This allows them the time to develop important life skills that they can take into adulthood. 

Supported Lodgings can be combined with a busy career or home life

Providing Supported Lodgings can give you many of the same rewards as fostering, without the time-commitment of providing full time care. You will still have time for work, family and friends, and other activities that are important to you as the young person living with you will have a level of independence.  

Become a Supported Lodgings provider

We welcome Supported Lodgings applications from people from all walks of life and educational backgrounds. You can be single, married, or part of a couple. You can be in full or part-time employment, or unemployed. The important thing is that you want to help a young person and make a difference. 

How to apply

To apply, you must: 

  • be age 21 or over 

  • have a spare bedroom and be willing to share your home with a young person 

  • enjoy supporting young people with life skills, gaining confidence and education 

As a Supported Lodgings provider, you will receive: 

  • training and support 

  • financial help towards living costs for the young person 

  • a weekly payment starting from £130 

  • regular visits from our support team 

  • support from our existing Supported Lodgings providers in Dorset who have lots of experience to share 

Request a call back

Find out more

Submit an enquiry and request a call-back from our enquiries team. You will then be contacted by one of our Supported Lodgings Support Workers. If you feel this is the right fit for you, we will arrange a visit to your home to meet with you, and your 8-to-12-week assessment process will begin. 

If you have a spare room and want to make a difference, but want some more information, get in touch. To speak to the enquiries team, call 01305 221000 or email fosteringenquiries@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk 
 

Hear more from our existing Supported Lodgings providers: 

  • Christina’s story 

  • Kirsty’s story 

Kirsty’s story

Christina’s story