New hub opened for care leavers to get support in Weymouth

It's first service of its kind in the Dorset Council area

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 5th Sep 2024

Care leavers in Dorset have been given a new place in Weymouth, to get support and advice.

The Hub at 10 Kirtleton Avenue is on the same site as existing Council housing for young people, with the new service designed to help care leavers aged 18-25.

It's the first hub of its kind in the Dorset Council area.

The living space at the hub in Kirtleton Avenue, where care leavers up to the age of 25, can get advice and support

Care leavers can drop in to play pool, engage in cookery sessions, participate in art evenings, or hang out in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

Education professionals, nurses, and housing officers are also available to offer guidance and support as needed.

Cllr Clare Sutton Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, said:

"We hope this space will become a cornerstone for care leavers in Weymouth, helping to reduce isolation, build social relationships, and provide practical support. It's about creating a place where young people can feel safe, supported, and connected. Every person leaving care will require different levels of support and the hub is one way we feel we can offer something a little different, something more informal and relaxed - a space to be used and to become part of our community.”

The hub get offer sessions with education professionals, nurses and housing officers to help care leavers

There are 553 care leavers, aged between 18 and 25 in the Dorset Council area, with the authority actively supporting 261 of them.

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