A new service to help young adults aged 18-25 who are experiencing mental health challenges has opened in West Ealing.
Operated by housing association and mental health support provider Look Ahead, Oaklands and St Kilda’s is named after the streets the two properties are located on – Oaklands Road and St Kilda Road.
The two sites offer community-based rehabilitation for young adults at risk of homelessness and provides accommodation for up to 12 people.
The aim of the service is to help support young people outside of hospital settings and will offer 24/7 support from a specialist team alongside NHS psychologists and mental health charities.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, a spokesperson for the service explained how it works: “The service offers spot placements and is open to young people aged 18-25 years of any gender from all across London, with no local connection to Ealing needed.
“Referrals may come from hospital, in-patient settings, from the family home or from looked-after children settings, and can be made by any health and social care professional working with the young person, such as a care coordinator, social worker, nurse, or consultant.
“We would usually expect a young person to stay at the service for around two years, but someone could stay for up to three years if their needs merit this.”
The project was supported by property industry charity LandAid, SEGRO, the UK Real Estate Investment Trust, Property Race Day, The Story of Christmas Appeal and the Greater London Authority.
Look Ahead CEO Chris Hampson said: “Our previous research found that mental health support for young adults in the UK had arguably reached crisis point. Eighteen months on, we are delighted to announce the opening of our brand new Oaklands and St Kilda Service, representing a positive response to these ongoing challenges, while also highlighting the power of partnership in driving better mental health support outcomes for young people.”
Mr Hampson added: “By providing the right support and care in partnership with the NHS alongside high quality, psychologically informed environments in beautifully restored buildings, we can help to prevent these young people from getting stuck in the revolving discharge of hospital admission and discharge.”
Tim Wates, chairman of the Wates Group said: “Community-based supported living settings offer a powerful alternative to hospital for young people experiencing a mental health crisis. We hope to see this model rolled out nationwide and for more and more young people to recover and move on with their lives these supportive environments. It is encouraging to see that the recommendations of the research that Wates Family Enterprise Trust funded have been implemented with the opening of this new service.”
Alice Lamb, deputy chief Executive and director of operations at LandAid, said: “LandAid are thrilled to have supported the St Kilda and Oaklands Road service and look forward to seeing the positive impact that the space will have on the lives of countless young people facing homelessness across London.
“Sadly, we have seen the youth homelessness crisis worsen year on year and the need has never been greater. This is why collective and innovative action across sectors and organisations is so important.”
