Brighton and Hove Foyer

Not for profit organisation

A Sanctuary Supported Living scheme for young people in Brighton celebrated its 15th anniversary this week, with an event attended by residents past and present, the city’s Mayor and the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex. The team at Brighton and Hove Foyer, on Pelham Street, has been giving young people aged 16 to 25 the support they need to live independently since March 1998, when it was opened to address concerns over youth homelessness.

Current and former residents

On Monday, the scheme marked the milestone with an anniversary bash that united current and former residents, some of whom had left the premises more than a decade ago. The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, who was one of a small team instrumental in bringing the foyer model to the United Kingdom, spoke on the background to the scheme, while Brighton and Hove Mayor, Councillor Bill Randall, visited and spoke with staff and residents.

Project success stories

Among the former residents who visited were Shelley Pratley, who has set up her own cake-making business since leaving the foyer and designed the event’s cake herself, and basketball and photography enthusiast Joe Rudwick. Joe, who has also set up his own business since leaving the foyer, works under the alias of the Biking Gardener and offers a range of home gardening services.