Suffolk secures £2.65m of funding for children’s homes
Some will go towards a new home
The government has agreed to invest more than £2.6m into new children's homes in Suffolk.
£1.9 million of that will be spent on repurposing two existing homes.
One will be reconfigured into two separate wings to accommodate complex young people, providing two additional placements.
The other children’s home is to be developed into a provision for young people preparing to exit the care system.
The remaining £0.7m funding will be used, in addition to £2m already approved by cabinet, to go towards a new home planned at the Felixstowe Ferry Centre building.
The home will include three residential care places and two shared care beds.
Shared care is when a young person spends a portion of time living with parents or carers and the rest at the home.
James Reeder, Cabinet member for Children’s and Young People Services, at Suffolk County Council, said:
“I am delighted that we have been able to secure this funding which will help us repurpose existing children’s homes and build the new home in Felixstowe.
“This investment is the first step to increase the amount of residential placements we have available to enable children and young people to stay closer to their families, friends and existing support networks whilst realising cost savings as a result.”