2018 North West Enterprise Awards

6 SME NEWS / NorthWest Enterprise Awards 2018 , From its base in Manchester Bedspace supports a range of vulnerable members of the local community throughout the North West. As part of our overview of a selection of the winners from the 2018 North West Enterprise Awards we profile the organisation to gain a fascinating insight into the crucial services it provides. Best Vulnerable Persons Housing & Care Provider 2018 Since its inception in 1999, Bedspace has accommodated and supported over 12000 vulnerable people in a variety of local communities. Today the organisation offers a wide range of services that set the standard in meeting the needs of a diversity of organisations. To this end, Bedspace has successfully developed working partnerships with a range of institutions that includes the Home Office, Refugee Action, County and City Councils, Social Services, Youth Offending Services, Leaving Care and Supported Living organisations. As a pioneer in this space, Bedspace was the first organisation in the North West of England to be GMAC accredited for the provision of ‘Semi Independent Supported Living’ . Since this achievement Bedspace has continued to adapt its service offering to continue to support its users and the community as a whole. To ensure the safety and comfort of its service users, Bedspace sources the majority of its accommodation from within the private rented sector, where the team have worked hard to establish relationships with accommodation providers across the North of England. The organisation implements well established policies and procedures for dealing with the sourcing, acquisition and maintenance of properties. As part of this approach, Bedspace is responsible for the payment of rent, until the service user is ready to take on the tenancy. At this point, given the right circumstances Bedspace would recommend the service user to the landlord/ agent and transfer the tenancy into their name. By keeping a small number of private rented properties available the organisation can Bedspace Resource Ltd NWE18013 Company: Bedspace Resource Ltd Contact: Chris Wareing Address: 473 Chester Road Old Trafford Manchester M16 9HF Phone: 7919215545 Website: www.bedspace.co.uk react to placement requests by Local Authorities at very short notice, or alternatively, these can be used in an emergency by Bedspace’s service users. Recently, Bedspace started a new group living project to support even more service users. The purpose of the project is for three young people to share accommodation with staff on site 24/7, the programme aims to provide a secure environment that will enable the young people to develop the skills required to live independently. This project and others will help Bedspace to continue to support vulnerable young people and drive change within its local communities. With regards to the future, this focus on continuingly improving and developing its service offering will remain central to Bedspace’s approach as it seeks to continue to build upon its current success and support an even wider range of service users. Ultimately, Bedspace’s ongoing focus is on providing leading- edge care solutions in safe, secure, good quality housing. The organisation welcomes into its charge people leaving care, refugees, asylum seekers, the homeless, young offenders and individuals with medical conditions who are in need of housing and support and will cotinine to do so over the years ahead.