When a young mum or a couple are taken on to the Project we ensure that the house is furnished and all essential household items are provided.  From time to time we are able to purchase such items at low cost so now we will have somewhere to store them until such time as they are needed.  We are also hoping that over time we can build up enough stock to offer some items to families when they move on from the Project.

We will also be able to use the facility to store personal belongings for those young people who move on from M3 Lodgings and are unable to take their things with them at the time of the move.

If you (or anyone you know) are willing to donate any of the above mentioned items please contact Joanne Mitchell at M3 to check whether it can be accepted.  All items must be in good condition and excellent working order.

It will reopen on Weds 28, Thurs 29 and Friday 30 December between 10am and 3pm.

It will be closed between 31 Dec and 2 Jan, reopening as normal on 3rd January 2012.

On-call will be available round the clock  as normal during this period, for emergencies only.

Seasons greetings and best wishes to all our young people, householders and colleagues from the staff team here at M3.

Our Householders offer a room in their house, along with some level of support for the young person. Householders encourage young people to develop day to day independent living skills, leading to greater independence and helping them to take control of their own lives and move-on to their own accommodation.

The project pays Householders £120 per week whilst they have a young person on placement.

If you wish to enquire about being a Householder for M3, you can use the form on our website, Contact Us or contact the project on 01706 216600.

Prior to April 2011, supported lodgings householders were allowed to choose to claim the same tax free allowances as adult placement providers.

Unfortunately, since April 2011, Inland Revenue have decided to introduce new legislation that puts many supported lodgings housholders outside these arrangements and back under Rent-a –Room Scheme rules. The implication of this is that householders can now earn a smaller amount tax free, before incurring a tax liability on any amount they earn over this figure, as this is considered profit. Thus, from April 2011, householders may be incurring a tax liability on the money they are paid to provide lodgings placements.

It appears that this decision by Inland Revenue has been made without considering the implications for supported lodgings householders outside of the foster care system, irrespective of the valuable service that these householders are giving.

Supported lodgings projects, led by the North West Supported Lodgings Forum (of which M3 is chair) are working together to approach Inland Revenue to ask them to reconsider this decision and look at the case for treating lodgings providers under the same tax arrangements as before.

In the meantime, please contact the project for more details if you wish to discuss what implications this might have for you as an individual householder.

For an M3 Emergency Lodgings referral form, click here EL Referral Form

Additionally, John is working with a group of young people on placement, to seek feedback and shape future service delivery based on the experiences and wishes of young people coming through M3 accommodation.

More on this soon.

Finally, John and Dawn will be extending our Independent Living Skills training to greater effect, ensuring that all our young people on placement receive high quality living skills training, preparing them for future independent accommodation.

We are currently seeking referrals for supported lodgings placements in both the Rossendale and Burnley areas. Please apply using the normal referral form

M3 Supported Lodgings Referral Form

Matt, a former peer mentor with our move-on project was successful in applying for the 6 month part-time Government funded post to work alongside Senior Project Worker Joanne Mitchell in providing support and mentoring to young people in placement.

Building on his skills and experience, Matt  has taken on the Emergency Lodgings post on a temporary basis, offering support to young people placed in this short term accommodation.

Beccy was matched to a placement in her home town, but close to bus routes to and from college and in an area she was already familiar with. She was placed with a family, though most of our placements are with single people, but this suited her as she was used to having younger siblings around.

Beccy stayed with the project at this placement for almost a full year whilst she finished her A levels and has now gained a place at University. Her relationship with her mother has improved and she now has a little more contact with her family.