Christian Wakeford MP visits supported housing scheme for young people in Radcliffe

Great Places recently welcomed MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, to Ellen Court in Radcliffe, to see how its Independence and Wellbeing service is supporting young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness to achieve independent living.

During the visit, Mr Wakeford met with colleagues from Great Places to learn more about the support available to young people aged 18 to 25 living at Ellen Court. He toured the service, including the recently established Community Hub and Working Wardrobe.

The Community Hub provides a welcoming space for partner organisations and colleagues to deliver workshops, training and support sessions, while the Working Wardrobe initiative offers free access to interview, college and work-appropriate clothing, helping young people feel confident and prepared as they take the next step towards education, employment or training.

Mr Wakeford also heard how the team at Ellen Court works closely with partners across health, social care, education and employment services to help young people build confidence, develop essential life skills and move towards independent living.

Commissioned by Bury Council, Ellen Court provides 12 self-contained flats within a safe and supportive environment for young people requiring medium to high levels of support. The service supports customers with a range of needs, including mental health challenges, previous care experience, substance misuse and family relationship breakdown, offering tailored support to help them sustain accommodation and achieve positive outcomes.

This visit highlighted the vital role supported housing plays in preventing homelessness and helping young people access education, training and employment opportunities. As a supporter of the National Housing Federation’s Supported Housing Week campaign, Great Places continues to champion the importance of long-term investment in supported housing services like Ellen Court that help people live independently and thrive within their communities.

Commenting on the visit, Christian Wakeford MP said:

It was a pleasure to visit Ellen Court and meet the colleagues delivering such an important service for young people in Bury. The scheme not only provides safe accommodation for young people, but also the practical and emotional support that helps them overcome challenges, build confidence and move towards independence.”

Alison Dean, Chief Executive of Great Places Housing Group, added:

We were delighted to welcome Christian Wakeford MP and showcase the fantastic work being delivered by our colleagues at Ellen Court. Supported housing plays a crucial role in preventing homelessness and helping young people develop skills, confidence and resilience to build successful futures. This scheme reflects our commitment to providing person-centred support through partnership working to help some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities achieve their full potential.”