Peterborough City Council's secure children's home for young women, Clare Lodge has received a £5 million Government grant to upgrade and improve facilities on the site.

 

The home - in Welmore Road, Glinton, Peterborough - provides accommodation and support for 16 young women aged between 10 and 17, who are in need of care and protection within a secure environment. It is licensed by the Department of Health and is one of only two of its kind in the UK.

 

The money will be spent on improving the living accommodation for residents and staff facilities, modernising the home's 'school' and building new classrooms and a fitness suite, installing a new communications system, and providing improved access to the site.

 

Peterborough City Council is providing an additional £600,000 over three years towards the refurbishment.

 

Councillor Geoff Ridgway, Cabinet member for Education and Children's Services, said: "This grant shows a real commitment by the Government, the Department for Education and Skills, and Peterborough City Council in the long-term future of Clare Lodge. "

 

Clare Lodge service manager Michael Nerini, added: "I am delighted that our bid has been successful. It will enable us to continue to be a market leader for secure welfare accommodation and ensuring that some of the most vulnerable young women are given high quality support, care and protection to enable them to rebuild their lives."

 

Many of the young women referred to the home have a range of physical and mental health needs and may have histories of exploitation or abuse. They may display challenging behaviour such as self-harming, drug or alcohol misuse, aggression, poor attachment and low self-esteem.

 

The home takes referrals from across the UK and aims is to help young women resolve their problems, improve their life skills and enable them to return to a less-controlled environment in the future.

 

Clare Lodge is not contracted to the Youth Justice Board and while some of those placed there may have histories of offending, placements are not made as a consequence of criminal activity.

 

 

1.      Clare Lodge provides a full-time, year-round education programme, art therapy, sexual health, drug and alcohol counselling, and personal fitness coaching.

 

2.      The Clare Lodge team consists of qualified social workers, teachers, consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nursing and other health professionals.

 

3.      Education is compulsory at the home and the young women may study for GCSEs, certificates of achievement, AEB literacy and numeracy tests, RSA word processing, ASDAN youth award scheme, NEAB and the unit assessment scheme.

 

4.      Clare Lodge works closely with St Andrew's Group of Hospitals in Northamptonshire - a leading provider of adolescent mental health care.

 

5.      The young women who stay at Clare Lodge live in groups of four in self-contained 'lounges'. Each one has its own dedicated team of staff.

 

6.      Clare Lodge celebrates its 10^th birthday this year.

 

7.      For more information visit Clare Lodge website at www.clarelodge.co.uk.