The Bridge is Charnwood’s independent housing advice and assistance service, and consists of four services

The Housing Advice Team advise and assist clients in different housing situations, for example, homeless clients, clients lodging with friends or family, council or housing association tenants, tenants with private landlords or owner occupiers. Their work includes advocacy, representation, appeals and tribunals. The team have a dedicated Tenancy Relations Officer, and provide an outreach service for young families at several Children’s Centres and Community Centres across the borough.

The Housing Related Support Service helps clients live independently in their own accommodation. They can help in the following situations;

• You have just been offered a tenancy and need support with the practicalities of moving in.
• You are an existing tenant who has problems with managing in your tenancy e.g. you have rent arrears, a lack of furniture, problems with your income, you are isolated and anything else that is affecting you related to your housing.
• You are waiting in temporary accommodation for permanent housing.

Single Access Point, based at the Bridge, is a specialist service that works with 16 & 17 year olds who are having difficulties where they are living. They may feel it is hard to stay where they are, or may have already reached the point where they have looked into or gone to other places. All 16 & 17 year olds who are experiencing difficulties with accommodation are directed to The Bridge for assistance. They can help make positive changes in many areas, the most common issues include arguments with parents/siblings, disagreements over house rules, routines, not being in education, employment or training, lack of income, behavioural problems, pregnancy, and overcrowding.

Talk 2 Sort is The Bridge’s mediation service. If you, or someone you know, feel that you have hit a brick wall and just can’t get through, then mediation could help. Talk²sort can work with 14 – 19 year olds and their families who live in the Charnwood Borough area. Many of the young people that we see at The Bridge have been referred by other agencies such as Connexions or the Single Access Point because communication has broken down at home and they are thinking of moving out or at risk of being asked to leave.

To find out more about any of the above services log on to The Bridge’s website at www.bridgehousingservices.com Alternatively call in to see us at 38, Leicester Road, Loughborough, Leics LE11 2AG, or telephone 01509 260500.