Home celebrates 10 years of independent living

Foundation House offers "independent lives" to young people with disabilities

A care home which supports adults with disabilities and brain injuries to live independently is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

National Star College's Foundation House in Gloucester opened in 2014 and provides long-term accommodation for some of its school leavers.

Xenon, 30, has been a resident there since it opened, supported by his carer David Stokes.

"It's family, it's nice, it's homely. There's no rushing around," he said.

'A real shortage'

Lynette Barrett, CEO of the college, said in 2014 they heard about a care home that was empty and at risk of demolition and saw it as a "brilliant opportunity".

"Young people were leaving National Star College and struggling to find appropriate accommodation," Ms Barrett said.

"There's still a real shortage of appropriate accommodation for working-age people with disabilities.

"Foundation House means they can have that independent life all young adults want, but with the right support around them, and with friends they can share their lives with."

Mr Stokes said he tries to find ways to make Xenon's life easier

'More agency'

Xenon said his carer at Foundation House is a "great guy", he said: "We have a great laugh and he understands the way I like to do things.

"He accepts I don't really want a time-tabled life. I don't want to be rushed around anymore. I want to get up and have a nice easy life."

He said he had found things more challenging since not being able to go out during the Covid-19 pandemic.

His carer, Mr Stokes, said he checks in with Xenon regularly and tries to find ways to make his life easier.

"It was hard to see Xenon be very isolated and not even wanting to go out," Mr Stokes said.

"It was meeting Xenon where he was at and building that confidence. A big part of that was gaming."

Mr Stokes added that they tried a lot of adaptive technology for Xenon, such as using voice-controlled lights and TV.

"It gives Xenon a lot more agency," Mr Stokes said.

'Huge demand'

Currently, 13 people live in Foundation House, the majority of them are funded through social care or health contributions, while National Star College runs as a not-for-profit organisation.

"For us what we want to do is we don't want to reduce the quality, but offer the best value for money," Ms Barrett said.

"The only way we are going to be able to provide accommodation to the people on the waiting list is if we open other homes, there is a huge amount of demand and a decline in the number of providers."