Memorandum by the Foyer Federation (CT
59)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since launching in 1992, the UK Foyer network
has grown to over 130 local Foyers supporting more than 10,000
homeless 16 to 25 year-olds each year, giving them a chance to
realise their full potential. They enable young people at risk
to escape the "no home-no job-no home" cycle by delivering
a holistic service that integrates accommodation with training,
job search, personal support and motivation.
This submission highlights key themes drawn
from the Foyers' experiences of working with young people in coastal
towns, including:
— A predominantly retired population.
— Educational opportunities.
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Foyers provide accommodation with opportunity
for young people, and a community in which they can grow towards
independence and thrive. By integrating training and job search,
personal support and motivation with a place to live, they provide
a bridge to independent living, and a chance for young people
to realise their full potential.
1.2 There are currently over 130 Foyers
across the UK supporting over 10,000 young people every year.
There are various models, ranging in size from fewer than 10 beds
to well over 200. Foyers can be developed as new builds or as
conversions from existing projects and services. All Foyers are
independently developed and managed by local partnerships and/or
Housing Associations, but the Foyer Federation and the Foyer Accreditation
Scheme connect them all through shared values, operating principles
and a quality framework.
1.3 Foyers aim to meet their mission statement
by providing affordable and secure accommodation with personal
support and access to training and employment. Unlike other accommodation,
the Foyer requires a two-way agreement with residents, so that
in exchange for accommodation and use of the Foyer services, the
young person commits to working on an action plan to move towards
personal and economic independence.
1.4 Because the Foyer Federation works with
over 10,000 young people a year we are particularly well suited
to highlight the problems and disadvantages young people in coastal
areas face. Some of the evidence below relates specifically to
issues faced by residents in Foyers, but often the issues highlighted
are problems faced by the majority of young people living in coastal
areas.
1.5 The Foyer Federation has gathered evidence
from seven coastal Foyers: Exeter Foyer, Plymouth Foyer, Lewes
District Foyer, Worthing Foyer, Scarborough Foyer, Foyer for the
Island (Isle of Wight), and Torbay Foyer.
1.6 This submission highlights key themes
drawn from the Foyers' experiences of working with young people
in coastal towns.
RETIRED POPULATION
2.1 All the Foyers referred to the high
percentage of retired or older people living in coastal towns.
One key consequence of this is that local services are predominantly
focused around their needs. There is also a lack of social activities
available for young people, and if there is anything to do, for
example cinemas, they are usually expensive. This lack of affordable
activities is particularly acute in the winter months.
2.2 Inter-generational conflict was also
highlighted as an issue by some Foyers.
TRANSPORT
3.1 All the Foyers highlighted the inadequacies
of public transport, and the associated high cost. Young people
living in Foyers generally have no access to private transport,
and for the majority who are living on benefit, the cost of public
transport is prohibitive. Foyer for the Island noted the high
costs of ferry tickets to the mainland, which means that young
people living on the Isle of Wight are generally stuck there.
Scarborough Foyer also pointed out that their nearest large town
is York, which at a cost of £40 for a train ticket, is out
of the reach of young people living in the Foyer.
3.2 Exeter Foyer raised the point that students
at FE colleges can apply for free travel passes, but no such option
is available to Foyer residents on life-skills courses. In Plymouth,
moped hire schemes exist, but again are not available to Foyer
residents on life-skills courses. On the Isle of Wight the local
Connexions service is twenty minutes away by train at a prohibitive
cost for Foyer residents.
LACK OF
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
4.1 A general lack of educational opportunities
is linked to the issue of inadequate and expensive transport.
Lewes District Foyer pointed out the lack of a local college.
The nearest college is in Lewes and is a long and expensive train
journey away.
4.2 Where Foyers do have access to local
colleges there is often an issue with the type of courses available
or appropriate to Foyer residents. Exeter Foyer pointed out that
the lack of relevant and suitable courses at their local college
leads to disillusionment and low expectations among Foyer residents.
Torbay Foyer has one young person that would like to do a carpentry
course, but no such course is available at the local college.
Scarborough Foyer reported that their local FE college does not
have relevant courses available, such as construction.
EMPLOYMENT
5.1 All Foyers referred to the seasonal
nature of employment, paid on a minimum wage basis. Jobs available
are usually in the hospitality sector, such as hotels, bars, catering,
or retail. The only employment available all year round is call-centre
jobs or work in care homes because of the high percentage of retired
people in coastal areas.
5.2 No high-tech industries are attracted
to coastal areas, therefore the focus is on entry-level employment.
Scarborough Foyer also pointed out that jobs in larger firms are
rare and usually short-term. Larger factories are also located
outside towns, with limited public transport again meaning that
they are prohibitive to young people living in Foyers.
5.3 The seasonal nature of employment in
coastal areas, combined with the decline of the local fishing
industries, mean that a lot of young people are caught in the
benefits trap. All Foyers highlighted the decline in tourism because
of cheaper flights to non-UK destinations which has had a negative
influence on the summer jobs available.
5.4 The Foyer for the Island highlighted
the impact of European migrant workers on the number of jobs available
to young people during the summer months, particularly as migrant
workers are often prepared to work for less than the minimum wage.
FAMILY BREAKDOWN
AND MISUSE
PROBLEMS
6.1 A large amount of drug related issues
stem from being close to ports where drug trafficking takes place.
6.2 In addition, the decline of the local
fishing industries has lead to a lack of community and unemployment.
The results are a high incidence of drug addiction, unemployment
and domestic abuse, leading to a high proportion of family break-down—the
main cause of Foyer referrals.
6.3 Many young people in step families do
not get on with their step mother, father or siblings and this
often results in them leaving the family home.
6.4 This, combined with the lack of social
activities, lead to many young people being involved in anti-social
behaviour and drug abuse. In all the seven coastal towns the Foyer
provides the only real alternative accommodation for these young
people.
6.5 Indeed, 15% of referrals to Torbay Foyer
are from young people left behind by families choosing to leave
the area due to the decline in the tourist industry and a lack
of jobs.
6.6 Because of the lack of transport, employment
and educational opportunities, young people in coastal towns tend
to be inward-looking and live in communities that are difficult
to break out from. When living in a small town with drug problems
it is often difficult for vulnerable young people to avoid being
drawn in.
6.7 Scarborough Foyer described the "bucket
and spade" syndrome where many people from Leeds come to
Scarborough to start a new life because of the positive postcard
images that many coastal towns have. However, a lot of people
do not find what they are looking for and many end up with drug
and alcohol addictions. Torbay Foyer added that a lot of young
people migrate to Torquay in the summer and end up staying, which
can often lead to substance misuse and anti-social behaviour.
6.8 Related to the above issues are a high
number of mental health issues, due to depression and low self-esteem.
Worthing Foyer noted that due to a lack of floating support and
social services for young people they have difficulties linking
in with mental health services and anger management courses, for
example.
HOUSING
7.1 All Foyers pointed out the lack and
high cost of housing and move-on accommodation available for young
people and Foyer residents in particular. The rental market is
geared towards summer lets and therefore affordable private rental
accommodation is generally only available during the winter months.
7.2 However, as Torbay Foyer pointed out,
many private landlords do not want to rent out to under-25s, particularly
those affected by Single Room Rent, and not enough new social
housing is available. In many cases the only accommodation available
for young people are the Foyers, and they can not cope with all
the number of referrals. Scarborough Foyer also pointed out the
lack of Registered Social Landlords in their area.
CONCLUSION
Many of the problems highlighted in this submission
affect young people across the UK. However, the situation in coastal
towns is particularly acute and exacerbated by the seasonal nature
of employment, a lack of affordable transport and the predominance
of an older population making access to appropriate public services
more scarce.
| 
