During the last financial year, 41 people were able to call one of our properties home, with 19 local adults successfully moving on to independent living. But the needs of those seeking help have changed since the pandemic, and we are adapting to meet them.
When The Bridge Trust became part of YMCA Thames Gateway Group in 2022, we inherited four properties in West Kent. These houses, set up in an HMO-style model, have provided vital support for many years. However, residents in this type of accommodation live largely independently, preparing their own meals and sharing facilities. Since the pandemic, we have seen increasing demand for more specialist supported housing, where staff can be on hand to provide the extra help people now need.
We already provide this kind of accommodation at larger sites in Tunbridge Wells, Romford and Brentwood, and the impact has been clear. That’s why, after a year of high vacancy rates across three of The Bridge Trust properties, we have taken the decision to sell them and reinvest in new accommodation that better reflects today’s needs in West Kent.
Although we do not yet have a specific site identified, our priority is to secure housing that is:
- safe and affordable
- larger in scale, enabling us to support more people at once
- designed with space for dedicated housing support workers
This decision is not about stepping back from West Kent – it’s about stepping up. By reshaping our provision, we will be able to offer the right kind of help at the right time, ensuring local people find not only a roof over their heads, but a place where they feel supported and able to move forward.
We are grateful for the continued support and trust of our community as we take this next step.
