Bridge House

About Bridge House

Bridge House is a mother-and-child accommodation-based service located in Luton.

We support women and their children through homelessness into safe, secure, independent accommodation. Through bespoke 1-1 support packages and a therapeutic and Trauma-Informed Approach, we help them overcome barriers to living independently.

Our service consists of seven supported temporary accommodation units that provide a lifeline to:

Expectant mothers
Mothers with up to two children aged under 10
Single women aiming to have guardianship of their children

We work with families to gain the valuable skills needed to:

End the cycle of homelessness
Support sustained, independent living
Recover from and receive support relating to domestic violence, experiences within the Criminal Justice System, mental health, substance use, parenting skills, safety in the home and maintaining family wellbeing.

Service contact details

Support Bridge House this Christmas

We are raising money to improve the Bridge House garden to transform it into an inspirational space for resident families to relax and recover. We are also raising funds to cover the cost of family days out for the residents, to improve their well-being and enable them to make family memories.

All funds raised will directly benefit the seven women and seven children who Bridge House is currently supporting.

£5 – could pay for fruit, vegetable and flower seeds for the families to enjoy sowing in the garden.

£10 – could pay for the public transport for a family to have a day out together.

£25 – could pay for equipment for outdoor gardening and wellbeing activities.

£50 – could pay for two families to have days out with some lunch.

£100 – could go towards purchasing larger garden equipment, such as a greenhouse or furniture.

Visit our Just Giving appeal page

Meet some of the team

Muriel Gutu

Clinical Lead

Muriel is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Independent Nurse Prescriber and liaises with the Medical Team and Recovery Team, ensuring clinical governance is at the heart of Social Interest Group's clinical offering.

Carla Phillips

Accommodation Based Family Support Worker

Carla’s passion is helping mothers and their children to move on to a fulfilling life with the confidence to grow. Carla is based at the Mother and Child Unit to offer support. She works alongside women who have fled domestic abuse, have substance use disorders and poor mental health. Carla believes everyone deserves a chance to see their worth and learn how to love themselves.

What we offer

We designed this service to work with families to gain the valuable skills needed to end the cycle of homelessness and enable sustained independent living in the future. Support is flexible and individualised so that families can progress in a way that suits the parent and child’s needs in a safe and stable environment. We offer bespoke 1-1 Support Worker Sessions, group work and activities, and provide a clear, collaborative pathway into other services for wraparound and continued community support for parent and child.

Our dedicated team includes an Accommodation-Based Family Support Worker, an Activities Coordinator and a Children’s Worker. Staff are on site Mon-Fri between 9 am-5 pm, and Penrose also provides an out-of-hours on-call service.
Eligibility (referral criteria)
Referrals must have identifiable support needs, and be willing to engage with the in-house support team and the external support offered. Referral criteria:
- Expectant mothers
- Mothers with up to two children under the age of 10
- Single women aiming to have guardianship of their children
- The maximum length of stay is up to 2 years, and residents are supported to prepare and access suitable move-on accommodation, be it Local Authority (local or relocating), Housing Association or privately rented.
How we can help
Assistance ranges from essential interventions and guidance around resettlement and gaining and sustaining independent living to more intense support in:
- Domestic violence
- Criminal Justice System
- Mental health
- Substance use
- Parenting skills – including Child Protection, custody arrangements, mediation and supervised contact
- Safety in the home and family wellbeing.
How we do it

We provide a stable home for families, which is vital for parents and children who have undergone the stresses of homelessness. This service gives families the chance to focus on their futures, aspirations and gaining skills, to maintain and sustain their independence within the community.

Bridge House utilises a network of support and engagement opportunities to empower and build confidence, including self-care, tenancy advice & guidance, welfare benefits and financial stability, mental, physical and emotional wellbeing and trauma support.
Our Staff

We recruit staff based on their caring nature, diversity, integrity, experience, and professionalism. All staff are subject to stringent background checks. Enhanced DBS checks and references are in line with our Safe Recruitment Policy.

Staff receive mandatory induction training in line with the Care Certificate. We support them in further training and development, including holding or working towards NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care.
Our referral process

We accept self-referrals and partner or agency referrals (including Luton Borough Council, Social Services, and voluntary sector organisations).

To make a referral, you contact us 01582 736114, or download the referral form below and once completed, email it to us at: bridgehouse@penrose.org.uk

Once we receive your enquiry, our team will review it and get in touch shortly after.

Referral form

“Bridge House provides friendship and support at challenging times in your life. The feeling that you are not alone.”

“Bridge House gives me space and confidence in myself and my parenting skills. Children improve their social skills interacting with other children within the project.”