Supported Lodgings and Fostering Christmas Afternoon Tea, Basingstoke
3 December 2026
Host and Carer Stories
When John, and his wife Tracy, first saw Supported Lodgings advertised, they decided to find out more. Nine and a half years later, they're still opening their home to young people with Step by Step, and many of those young people still come back for dinner.
“"You've got to let them be themselves, but you still need rules in place."
We caught up with John, to find out more about his experience as a Supported Lodgings Host. John says hosting is a lot like raising his own children. "It involves trying to make them street wise, teaching them how to cook, tidy and showing them how to use money correctly."
It hasn't meant putting life on hold, either. John and Tracy still do pretty much everything they did before they started hosting.
Many of the young people who come into Supported Lodgings are care leavers, finding their feet when the support they previously received suddenly ends at 18. They’re navigating a new sense of freedom that can feel overwhelming at times. For John, getting the balance right matters. "You've got to let them be themselves, but you still need rules in place to help them work towards independence."
One young man who lived with John and Tracy is autistic. When he first arrived, he didn't like leaving the house or being around other people. Over his time with them, John watched him come out of his shell and felt proud as he went on to university and earned a degree. They're still in touch, and he often comes round for dinner, as do many of the young people John and Tracy have supported over the years.
John is keen to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions about the young people they host: that "they're all bad, horrible kids that have been dumped for some reason or other, but in reality, it's the opposite." They end up being placed in Supported Lodgings for reasons out of their control and they’re good people who are appreciative of the opportunity they’ve been given.
He knows he's never doing it alone. His Step by Step Placement Coordinator is always on the end of the phone when he needs him. And John is clear about why the service matters for young people, describing Supported Lodgings as "a step into their future."
His advice to anyone thinking about hosting? "Think about the impact on yourself and your family before you decide, but it's a bloody good role."
If you have a spare room and want to help a young person take their next step, find out more today.
Seven young people from Step by Step recently swapped dry land for open water, spending five days crewing a yacht along the south coast with Ocean Youth Trust South.
