The Youth Community Home Launches in Chiswick
Former B&B turned into accommodation for homeless young people
The interior of the new accommodation for young people
A former bed and breakfast near Chiswick Common has been reopened to provide quality accommodation for homeless young people.
The Youth Community Home was formally launched last weekend with 230 people attending across two special events held virtually.
This followed the lengthy renovation of a former guest house which had fallen into a state of disrepair after its owner died in 2016. It was two years almost to the day from the Hounslow Council Planning Committee’s approval in March 2019 and nearly three years after the property was purchased at auction from the estate of the previous owner.
The house now offers a new start for young people in need of a safe place to call home and a supportive community that will it is hoped will serve as a springboard into employment, further study and longer-term accommodation.
The home is a bright and airy space offering rooms for up to nine young people and communal living areas where dinners take place each night with the live-in host family and volunteers. The first young people have been welcomed to the home since early January.
The launch events held over Friday and Saturday included representatives from all the involved charities and funders, supporting local churches: St Michael and All Angels, St Nicholas Chiswick, Christ Church Turnham Green and St Paul’s Hammersmith, along with Chiswick residents and Hounslow Mayor Tony Louki and local councillors Gabriella Giles, Joanna Biddolph and Ron Mushiso. The Mayor warmly welcomed the project to the borough.
One of the bedrooms in the new centre
Although guests could not tour the building in person, they were treated to a special digital tour sponsored by a company in London, Grow Properties, and the organisers are very hopeful that the opportunity for an in-person tour is not too far off. There was also a Q&A session.
The charity has been supported by many donors including, Streetsmart, IKEA, Landaid, and The Highway One Trust. Youth Community Home partner with the New Horizon Youth Centre who are managing the referrals to the home.
Local businesses are also offering their support, including chef Sam Harrison, of Sam’s Riverside in Hammersmith he said; “I think what you are doing is brilliant and I am thrilled that my team & I have been able to help in a small way.”
Community Engagement Officer, Monique Reichberger, said; “This has been a major project and we are delighted to have got this far, I know it will transform so many lives. I’ve been amazed at the welcome and kindness we have found in Chiswick, it is so great to be here. We believe that the young people will really thrive in this place and the supportive community in Chiswick will make a real difference to their lives.”
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March 14, 2021
