For Karen, offering Supported Lodgings has become one of the most meaningful parts of her life. Alongside her full‑time role at Essex County Council, she’s opened her home – and her heart – to young people who need a safe place to find their footing and move confidently toward adulthood.
In this blog, she shares her journey, what inspired her to take on the role, and why she believes more people should explore this flexible, impactful way of supporting young people in Essex.
How opening your home can change a young person’s life – and yours
I’m Karen, and alongside my day job as a Business Support Assistant at Essex County Council, I provide Supported Lodgings for young people in Essex. It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.
I was inspired to become a Supported Lodgings carer as my parents were both foster carers and I was brought up with foster children. I saw the difference they were making to children and young people’s lives.
We’re here to support and encourage children when they need someone to believe in them.
Why Supported Lodgings worked for us
We moved to Essex, found ourselves with a spare room and thought it would be really nice to give a child a home. We looked into fostering, but we realised for younger children we’d need to be available for school runs and we weren’t sure how that would fit with our working lives.
Then we discovered Supported Lodgings. It gave us the flexibility we needed to continue our full-time work, and the young people were more independent. It meant we could still help to make a difference to a vulnerable young person.
What is supported lodgings?
Supported Lodgings Carers offer a safe, caring home to young people aged 16–18 who can’t live with their families. It’s about providing guidance, encouragement and emotional support as they take their first steps toward adulthood.
Carers help young people build confidence and practical life skills – cooking, cleaning, managing money, staying safe, and finding their way into education or work. It’s an ideal role for people who want to make a real difference but may not have the time or capacity to foster younger children.
Supported Lodgings feels a lot like parenting: being there with advice, structure and belief in their potential. Unlike fostering, which often involves younger children and greater daytime availability, Supported Lodgings can fit more easily alongside a full-time job – making it a lifestyle-friendly way to change a young person’s future.
Why I’m so passionate about what I do
I was a Learning Mentor working in school with vulnerable children many years before my role at Essex County Council. I recall times when I knew I could make a difference. Their parents were struggling, and I knew I that I could help. Now I can help and it’s so rewarding!
I have supported two young people. They’ve come from difficult backgrounds, and I want them to do well in life. They are very much part of our family and that makes such a difference. I enjoy supporting young people in my community when they need it, hoping they go on to give back and we can all live in a kinder world.
What I’d like people to know
Celebrating a child’s birthday, creating memories, it all makes such a difference.
I want people to have confidence in themselves to explore Supported Lodgings or Fostering if it’s something they’re interested in. The process is brilliant, it allows the service to learn about you and what will work for you. That enables them to make the best match of child to your family. You have a community of support around you and access to lots of training and financial support. Exploring this isn’t committing, you can get in touch, but you might decide it’s not for you, and that’s fine too.
My team and my managers have always been very accommodating and supportive. I also benefit from our Fostering Friendly policy to support with additional leave when I need it.
We’re here to support and encourage children when they need someone to believe in them. I remember the night one of our young people left. He said: “I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me.” We are still in touch now.
Could you offer a young person a safe place to grow?
Find out more about Supported Lodgings and fostering in Essex.
