Work begins on city's new £1.8m children's home

The home will accommodate six young people aged between eight and 17

Construction work has started on Leicester's first purpose-built children's home in more than 40 years, the city council said.

The £1.8m facility is set to open in late 2025 when it will be able to accommodate six young people aged between eight and 17.

Leicester City Council said the home, located in the west of the city, would look after children placed there because they could not live with their birth families.

The authority said it had recently completed the conversion of two council houses into a children's homes for five young people.

The new home is being funded by the council as well as an £800,000 grant from the Department for Education.

It will have five bedrooms with ensuite facilities, two semi-independent living flats, a kitchen, lounge, games room and sleeping quarters for staff.

'Continuity and stability'

Deputy city mayor for social care Sarah Russell said: “We are determined to provide the best possible care for the children and young people we look after.

"Most children who can’t live with their birth families live with foster carers, but this isn’t right for everyone, and increasing demand for children’s social care services in recent years means there has been a significant rise in demand for residential children’s homes.

"This is the case across the country.

“Providing more children’s homes within the city means children and young people can continue to receive support within their communities rather than them moving away from Leicester.

"This continuity and stability can be very important to children experiencing major disruption to their lives.

“There are also long-term financial advantages to providing more places ourselves.”

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