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We understand attending an appointment or reaching out for help can be a difficult experience, either for a young person or someone acting on behalf of a young person.

Below we set out some information on what to expect from your appointment with St Basils. Please note, locations will differ, but this information will give you a good idea of best practices and tips and tricks. For further information, please ask what is required when making an appointment. 

Making a phone call or appointment

  • Click Get Help on our website.
  • Choose your location.
  • Choose the most relevant option- will you be homeless in 56 days, are you currently homeless, or are you looking for advice and support?
  • Call the numbers listed under that option, or email the email addresses listed. If you do not get a response through phone, please email, and vice versa.
  • Please note- some of our lines, and the lines of the housing teams, including our Birmingham Youth Hub, are very busy. Please be patient and ensure you leave a voice message with your name, number and if possible, your email address. We will endeavour to reply to you as soon as we can.
  • Please explain your situation to us the best you can. Our staff are trained to listen, understand, and make the conversation as comfortable as possible. If you have any additional needs in order to have a conversation with us, for example, only being free to talk from 9-5pm, or having difficulty using the telephone, please let us know.
  • Some young people choose to reach out to us using our social media channels (left). We will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible, however you will have greater success contacting your local project directly via our Get Help section. We understand this isn’t always possible, so please expect a response on social media within 48 hours.

 

We have hubs in Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry. We don’t have Hubs in every location we cover, so a lot of our referrals come through from local Housing teams. Young people may need to approach their local area Housing Office to be referred to St Basils. You’ll find this information in the Get Help section. Once referred, St Basils contact the relevant Housing Team to arrange an initial assessment, and you will be notified of the outcome within a few days, and if successful, added to the project’s waiting list.

What to bring to your appointment

This differs for each project and each stage of appointment- however, it is best practice to follow the instructions below. If you do not have all of these documents, please don’t worry- we understand and will work with you best we can.

  •   Proof of ID: A passport, driving license, or birth certificate.
  •   Proof of address : This could be a utility bill, bank statement, or a letter from a landlord or council.
  •  Documents related to your housing situation: Such as a tenancy agreement, eviction notice, or any correspondence from a landlord or housing authority.
  •  Benefits paperwork or proof of income: If you’re claiming benefits or have proof of your income, bring those documents along.
  • If you are not a UK Citizen, we may need to see your Share Code for right to rent and claim benefits.
  • If you receive money from Universal Credit, we may need to see your journal on the day.
  • If you’re working, we may need to see bank statements for the last 3 months.

What to expect from an appointment

  • You should hear from us after referral in approximately 3-5 working days. It may be longer if you are waiting to hear back from a local housing team external to St Basils.
  • If suitable, you’ll meet or have a phone call with one of St. Basil’s housing workers. They are trained to listen to your situation and help you explore the best options available to you. They’ll ask questions about your current housing situation, any challenges you’re facing, and what kind of support you need, and go through a detailed assessment of your housing needs.
  • The first appointment typically lasts around 30-60 minutes, depending on your situation. The St Basils team member will take time to understand your needs, offer advice, and explain the next steps.
  • After the initial assessment, the assessment will be discussed at a panel meeting. Panel meetings often happen weekly.
  • A decision on the assessment will be made and the young person, in most cases, should expect to hear from staff within a few days following the assessment.
  • If the situation is urgent, the response time may be quicker. It’s always a good idea for young people to ask during the assessment for a rough timeline and next steps, so you know what to expect.
  • You should leave an assessment with a clear plan of what’s happening, who’s doing what and by when. If you are unsure- please ask.

Extra Information

If you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to ask questions during the assessment. Our staff are here to answer all your questions and make sure you understand everything.

It’s completely normal to feel nervous or overwhelmed, and it’s okay to bring a friend or support worker with you for extra support.

You don’t need to have everything figured out—we’ll guide you through each step of the process and explain what happens next.

If you can’t make an appointment or your situation changes please let us know as soon as possible! We know life can be busy and the unexpected can happen.

Please wait for an appointment date and time before attending a Youth Hub or project, unless you need immediate walk-in help via our Birmingham or Solihull Youth Hub.