Council opens new children's home and supported living site in Aylesbury
A new children’s home and supported living unit are opening in Aylesbury, the local authority confirmed.
Bucks Council announced it is opening Coach House, a new home for children in the Aylesbury area. Bucks Council does not disclose exact locations of its supported living buildings due to safeguarding regulations.
In recent months, the authority has opened further children’s homes called Lawrence Lodge, Pineview and The Beeches, in the Aylesbury area.
It has also announced the opening of Oakview, a step‑down supported living property. The authority confirmed the building can house up to four families and confirmed it is designed for those who have completed a parenting assessment but still need ongoing support or do not yet have access to safe, suitable housing.
With the two openings, the authority is halfway to meeting its pledge to open 10 of its own new children’s homes within its region. Bucks Council says each site has dedicated, experienced teams operating its new children’s homes.
Data released by the council shows that 500 children are currently under the care of Buckinghamshire Council. The council adds that many of these children are in foster care but these new homes provide an alternative to living situation for youngsters who may struggle in such environments.
Further figures released by the council state that running its own children’s home will create savings of £7.5m per year by the financial period ending in 2028.
Councillor Carl Jackson said: “By opening Coach House and Oakview, Buckinghamshire Council is extending the support we can offer to children, young people and families, helping them stay close to their schools, family members and local community. Ensuring that we provide high‑quality, locally based support remains at the heart of everything we do.”
A recent Ofsted inspection of one of the council’s new children’s homes, Lawrence Lodge, praised the positive experiences of different young people. They included siblings who were able to stay together, close to home, allowing them more opportunities to build relationships with family members, and another young person whose time at the home helped them gain the confidence to secure a work experience placement with a top London law firm and sign up for the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.