Carers

Supported Lodgings
The Albert Kennedy Trust is best known for our supported lodgings scheme.

We match lesbian, gay bisexual and trans people with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans young people who are homeless, living in a hostile environment or in crisis. Carers can be couples, single people or families with children.

To be a carer you need:

• To have an appropriate spare room
• Positively identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans
• Be aged 21+
• Live in Greater Manchester or London (any London borough)
• Be prepared to undergo a 6month+ training & assessment process

The young people referred to the Trust have often experienced discrimination from their families or within the care system that has resulted in their becoming homeless.

Our supported lodgings carers usually work with young people aged 16-21 (up to 25 in exceptional circumstances) and most placements last 6-18 months.

Emergency & Respite Care – If you don’t have full-time availability then maybe you could become one of our emergency/respite carers? AKT is currently developing services to respond to the increasing numbers of young people who need a bed immediately but only for a few nights or to let longer term carers take a break/go on holiday.

If you meet the carer requirements but only want to be a carer for 2-14nights per month then register your interest and the more people who apply the sooner we can launch this much needed service.

Foster Care
If we get a referral for anyone under 16 we work closely with social services and carers have to be approved in addition by the social services fostering panel. Where these placements occur they tend to be longer term, possibly until adulthood.

Assessment/Training
AKT uses the national Foster Care Minimum Standards as our baseline and guide for assessing and training potential new carers.

As well as completing a detailed application form you will be visited at your home several times by our Placement Worker who will guide you through caring for young people every step of the way. Full training is provided and you will receive ongoing support from Trust staff and peer carers. A weekly allowance is payable to you when you have a young person living with you.

The process can take a minimum of 6months but may take longer depending on the resources available to AKT at any one time.

Note: For funding reasons we are particularly keen for carers living in Manchester City or the London Borough of Hackney