Our Story

In 1992, taking inspiration from post-war France, UK Youth Foyers were developed to integrate employment support into housing for young people who can’t live at home in order to break the ‘no job, no home, no job’ cycle of homelessness. The Foyer Federation was established to safeguard and advocate for the Youth Foyer approach nationally.

Over the last 30+ years, our purpose remains unchanged and the Youth Foyer approach – as well as our work on the ground – have evolved to meet contemporary needs.

The cornerstone of the modern-day Youth Foyer is the understanding that no one’s journey through life is linear; and that progression towards sustainable independence involves holistic personal development.

In 2011, we developed the Advantaged Thinking approach to challenge and take action against the prevailing deficit-based culture and services commissioned and delivered to young people.

Advantaged Thinking is an asset-based philosophy that centres young people’s strengths and potential, rather than focussing purely on their circumstances or on what they are perceived to lack.

Central to the Youth Foyer approach, Advantaged Thinking takes a positive view through positive action: it understands ability, recognises qualities, promotes achievements and inspires what is possible.

In 2016, in partnership with young people and the University of Cumbria, we developed the Youth Foyer Theory of Change to define and articulate the key outcomes that young people who can’t live at home hold as most important for transitioning into adulthood.

The purpose of a Youth Foyer then is to provide a safe and nurturing, community-focussed environment for young people to develop in these areas of life.

Few organisations make meaningful impact with young people across housing, employment, education, wellbeing and personal development – this is what the Youth Foyer Network lives and breathes.

In 2025, we launched our latest strategy: ‘A New Horizon for Youth Foyers’.

For too long, Youth Foyers have been the unsung heroes of the youth supported housing sector, achieving huge impact in the lives of young people with very little resource, investment or acknowledgement.

As governments have changed, funding has been pulled from local authorities, and housing associations have merged, Youth Foyers have either been closed, underfunded or over relied on to provide reactive services dealing with failures in the wider system.

However, the reason Youth Foyers exist and work is the same today as it was during their inception in 1992: they provide young people who can’t live at home with the opportunity to be part of a safe, thriving community where they can realise their power and purpose.

The Youth Foyer Network needs national investment and recognition – and this is what we’re striving for.