Housing advice - young people

Advice for young people (aged 16 to 18) leaving home for the first time

You need to think carefully about getting your own home and who you want to live with. Leaving home is a big step and, when you leave, you will have more responsibilities. These will include managing your money to make sure you don’t get into debt, looking after yourself and your new home.

Are you ready to go it alone?

Living alone can be fun but it can also be scary and difficult to manage. You will have to do the shopping, cooking, budgeting, pay the bills all by yourself. At times, you may find this very hard. Make sure you find out what help and support is available to you. There are lots of support services in the city that can help you, including housing providers in Derby that offer housing which is linked to getting into training, education and work. Consider your choices carefully before deciding to leave home. Leaving home in a planned way is much better than leaving home in a hurry.

If you do leave home in a hurry, it’s best to take some essentials with you, such as:

• identification (ID) – preferably two forms of ID
• any medication you are taking
• any bank cards or benefits claim books you have
• clothing
• toiletries.

Useful contacts

 For advice on benefits, call our Benefits helpline on 01332 255122.

 If you are aged 16 to 18 years and:

•  homeless tonight or threatened with homelessness, call:
  • call us (during office hours) on 01332 256483
  • call Ashtree House (Social Services) on 01332 641172 for immediate advice. After 5pm and at weekends, call 01332 786968.
• thinking about leaving home:
  • call us on 01332 256483 to get advice and find out if you are able to live away from home and by yourself.

The SPACE @ Connexions, 8 Curzon Street, Derby offers free and confidential counselling, information and advice for young people from age 12 to 25 years. Call 01332 200033 or email ask.for.advice@derby.gov.uk

Useful forms

• Housing advice - young people