Thirteen has successfully retained a number of care and support services which offer help and support to young people in the Hartlepool area.
The new contracts, which offer support around housing and assisting young people to gain or remain as tenants, begin on 24 October 2017.
Thirteen has been providing services for young people in the Hartlepool area for over 30 years and the new contracts are confirmation of commissioners’ backing for the services Thirteen provides.
The renewed contracts include: support services at Anna Court which provide high quality accommodation and in-reach for young parents in Hartlepool aged 16-25; floating support services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; and services at Rose House which offer accommodation for young people who are leaving the care system and are in need of housing.
Chris Joynes, Director of Customer Support Services at Thirteen, said: “We’ve been delivering supported accommodation and floating support services for young people in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council since the mid-1980s and we’re delighted that the contracts for these strategically important services have been renewed.
“These services will continue to provide vital support to hundreds of young people across Hartlepool. Not only will they help vulnerable young people to remain in, or gain homes in the area, but they will also help young people to strengthen their resilience and support their successful transition to independence and adulthood.”
The contract at Anna Court has been renewed for five years, with the potential of another five year extension subject to funding and performance. The floating support service has been extended for two years, with the option of one-year extensions over the subsequent eight years – subject to funding and performance. The contract for services at Rose House will be continued for the next four years.
As part of the contract renewals, there will be a number of service improvements which will provide an enhanced service for customers, such as the delivery of a continuous 24/7 service at Anna Court.
Councillor Alan Clark, the Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Children’s Services Committee, said: “The Council has worked in partnership with Thirteen for a number of years and the quality of the provision and support received has been of a high standard from a motivated, skilled and dedicated staff team who have made a difference to the young people they have supported.
“The Council hopes to build on the excellent relationships already in place and further develop the new contracts to ensure the needs of young people across the town continue to be met.”