Pathways to Independence UK

Who we are

PTI specialises in providing Support, Accommodation, Advice and Training services for young people seeking asylum aged 16 to 25 across the south east of England

We are a small, person-centred organisation that cares about young people. We have a track record of success and have supported over 500 young people since 2004 and 60 UASC currently in our projects

We have a 15-year service history working with Local Authorities providing a mixed portfolio of specialist accommodation,ranging from single to shared units, across a wide range of needs, from low-medium-enhanced. We also provide support-only options for young people living in the community / foster care / other placements. We currently offer 60 placements for UASC and care leavers in our specialist semi-independent homes in Sussex, Surrey and Greater London. Support packages include:

• Newly arrived asylum-seeking children aged 16 – 18 within our specialist new arrivals service
• Supported accommodation, Care Leavers service and preparation for independence for young people aged 16-21 within our trainee tenants service
• A dedicated advocacy and support service for victims of trafficking 
• Triple Track planning and trauma-informed support for young people facing uncertain outcomes
• Dedicated female-only accommodation support service
• NOCN Accredited training for all young people
• Floating and Outreach support. Independent Child trafficking Advocacy (ICTA) and Appropriate adult support coming soon!

We are well equipped to work with young people with complex needsand safeguarding issues.We have in-house expertise in CSE; trafficking; grooming and extremism; integration and trauma informed approaches to supporting young people with complex needs 

The focus of our work is homelessness prevention and long-term independence. We focus is on young people’s progression from support to leading independent lives. We have a 90% rate in maintaining accommodation. Our proudest achievement is 90% of our service users are in education and 73% are engaged in a programme of Independent Living Skills

Outcomes. PTIUK are committed to positive outcomes and we work on an outcomes-based approach in order to ensure that young people leave the service more prepared for independent living. 

We are a lead organisation in UASC Good Practice. We have Home Office funding in partnership with the South East Strategic Partnership for Migration (SESPM) to deliver training for local authorities on triple track planning, and work with Triangle, the creators of Outcome Star - on the development of a UASC Outcome Star 

Specialist UASC Training.We are committed to sharing good practice and can offer training to external organisations and foster carers on working with young people at all stages of the asylum processincluding: safeguarding for new arrivals; support though the legal process; trauma informed approaches to support and triple track planning including working with ARE young people and those at risk of detention. 

UASC Good Practice Research. We have conducted and are involved in various Research on aspects of work with young refugees and asylum seekers

Our vision is of a world in which all young people are able to fulfil their potential and make the transition to independence and adult life.

Our mission is to provide advice and support for young people who have experienced disadvantage and isolation.

Our ambition is to develop a replicable model of good practice for agencies and individuals involved in the care of separated children and young people One Future Different Pathways