Building the “dream home”: Lasting Support Homes
We are building the “dream home” designed to look after young people aged 16-17. Lasting Support Homes will launch as a non-profit to change the supported accommodation housing system in the UK and increase the standards for vulnerable children who left care. We know the care system is broken and isn’t working for young people right now. Frontline professionals are overworked with limited resources and based on our experience and research, supported accommodation makes young people feel hopeless for the future. We believe every child deserves safe housing where they are given a chance to thrive and plan a safe & happy future for themselves.
Our Founder & CEO Warda is a Somali-British social entrepreneur who grew up in London being the firstborn of refugee parents. Warda often found herself feeling isolated and her culture misunderstood. She was the first generation born in the UK in her family and seeing her family and herself being othered made Warda passionate about creating change for herself, her family and everyone else that is othered.
Warda got a degree in Marketing & Communications to use the power of communications to create change for those who are not heard, supported or misunderstood. Over 10 years in different roles from residential worker to her current role as the CEO, Warda has campaigned for the rights of refugees, young people, and people with disabilities.
Warda founded Lasting Support Services because she saw a huge gap in the care-development sector which she believed had to be filled in our lifetime. We are building a dream home for children who are referred to supported accommodation where they will have the opportunity to map out their options, legal rights, education and future with full support from professionals.
“As a professional working in the care system for a long time, I didn’t have a “dream” solution for young people who already have been through a lot. I wanted to create a home like no other to show everyone in the sector that this could be done for vulnerable children who need our care and support to build safe and happy lives.” - Warda Mohamed, Founder & CEO of Lasting Support Services
Lasting Support Homes will be built as a non-profit, unlike most supported accommodation, we are building ours to solely benefit the children and not to make a profit out of it. These homes start in London will be a statement in the sector and set high standards for vulnerable young people who haven’t received the support they deserve in the most crucial times of their lives.
To support our vision and young people leaving care, please visit our Lasting Support Homes website.