Christmas is a time for families and friends to get together.

But for those who can’t be with their loved ones, for whatever reason, it’s a poignant time of year.

And for young people leaving care and venturing out into the wider world, it can be a daunting and frightening time.

Neglect is one of the reasons why youngsters end up in care, according to Kath Copley, project co-ordinator of Bradford Stepping Stones.

The project, which started in 1999, is run in partnership with the charity Action For Children and Bradford Council.

Stepping Stones provides safe accomodation and support for young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who have been in the care system. The arrangement can be for a few months or several years.

The organisation also works with young people who find themselves homeless.

Around 60 young people a year leave care in Bradford at the age of 16. As care leavers, they are still entitled to the support of the local authority until they are 21, should they require it.

Some young people may want to live independently. If that fails, they may come to Stepping Stones later on.

Others move on to semi-independent accommodation such as the Bradford Foyer. Those who aren’t ready for adult life and independence move in with supported lodgings providers who give them practical help and emotional support.

“It’s difficult for young people to get work and to get jobs anyway,” says Kath. “Obviously our children coming out of care have a lot of things to deal with, so getting a job is quite difficult for them and it is difficult to go into a private tenancy. It can be lonely, and if they can’t find work they have to live on benefits.”

Supported lodgings providers guide and educate the young person in their care and prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood. Kath says the young people are matched with the person they will live with.

Bess was 16 when she initially left her foster parents. She describes herself as ‘chaotic and out of control’; she was abusive and difficult to her foster parents.

Bess lived in several flats and admitted mixing with the wrong type of people. She returned to her foster carers for a short term after finding herself homeless.

When her foster carers moved, she agreed to spend a month in supported lodgings to give her time to find an independent tenancy.

Bess lived with Ailsa, a supported lodging provider, for almost two years and has left behind the chaos in her life. She has a part-time job and has enrolled on a college course doing health and social care. She has also settled down with her boyfriend and they are expecting their first child.

Bess believes supported lodgings gave her a safe space to “stop and take stock” of her life.

With Ailsa, she was able to look at her life and focus on her future. The lodgings gave her support and security, but also independence and freedom, as well as a sense of responsibility.

There are currently 14 supported lodgings providers working with the project, but more are needed to ensure they can meet the needs of young people requiring supportive accommodation.

Kath finds helping young people rewarding. “You may get someone who has nowhere to go, nowhere to live and you take them in and keep them safe and warm; you look after them and teach them independent skills,” she says. “The rewards are that you see the young person make changes.”

Kath has seen young people with little education going on to university. Others have moved on and set up home on their own, and some are starting their own families.

“I think it’s a really good option for young people who are not ready to cope on their own and not ready for the responsibility of a tenancy. It helps them get back on their feet,” she says.

* Anyone can apply to be a supported lodgings provider, as long as they are over 25. It is a paid role. Stepping Stones would like to hear from people of all ethnicities, religions, ages and family situations. For more information, call Kath on 07904105930.