Ludlow shelter for 16 to 25s faces 'grave' threat

Ludlow Foyer, a project for 16 to 25-year-olds, is under "grave" threat, Ann Sutcliffe, an executive director with Shropshire Housing Group, has revealed.

The scheme in Portcullis Lane opened its doors in 2000 and is the only accredited project of its type operating in Shropshire, offering not just accommodation to young people with nowhere else to go, but also training and help to find work.

Now the Foyer is under threat from twin financial pressures, Mrs Sutcliffe said – a drastic cut in money from Shropshire Council's "supporting people" budget from 2017, and a proposed cap to Local Housing Allowance, which will limit the level of housing benefit the young people at the Foyer can claim.

She broke the news at a meeting of Ludlow and Clee local joint committee (LJC) on Thursday, following a visit to the Foyer by leader of Shropshire Council, Councillor Malcolm Pate.

She said: "Funding from Ludlow Foyer is protected for one year but from 2017 it will completely go.

"At the moment Shropshire Council put about £110,000 of revenue into it.

"Ludlow Foyer will close unless we can find some funding and the Local Housing Allowance cap is overturned – and we need to know certainly by September this year.

"This is one of the reasons why I asked for Malcolm Pate to visit.

"I think the people of Ludlow need to know how grave the threat is."

She said schemes to help disadvantaged young people in Bridgnorth, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Whitchurch were also under threat.

There had been plans to expand Ludlow Foyer, which can currently house 15 young people at a time, into neighbouring property Harvest House, but that plan is now also under threat.

Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North and LJC chair, said: "We need to tackle this. We can't just say 'there's no money', otherwise it will be critical for this town."

Ludlow and Clee LJC is leading a talks on what can be done to better help disadvantaged young people in Ludlow from Monday.