Young people at risk as secure home faces closure, say managers

Orchard Lodge in Anerley, South London, which is run by a private company, the Glen Care Group, is facing closure at the end of June when its contract with the Youth Justice Board ends.

Managers say boys at the unit will be moved miles from home making it harder for families to visit and provide vital support.

"As it stands at the moment the contract we have with the Youth Justice Board ends at the end of June 09 and unless it is extended or there is a change of mind we will close," said director of children's services Dennis Scotland.

"We through there might be a reduction in places but as we're the only secure children's home in London, we did not in our wildest dream expect to close."

The 24-bed unit for boys aged 12 to 16 is currently home to 16 young men, who have been told they will have to move.

Scotland said the boys were upset and unsettled by the news. "They wanted to know why. They wanted to where they were going and how their families were going to get to see them," he said. "They want to be as near home as possible. If they had a choice they'd want to remain here."

The company was told it had come eleventh out of 14 in the tendering process to award the contract but is appealing the decision, confirmed Scotland.

"The weighting of the tender process was around price and quality and we don't know if it was more about issues of quality or whether it was price and there were 10 others cheaper than us," said Scotland.

"If the decision was taken in the best interests of children then surely it is better to have boys from all around London stay in London than moving to Southampton or Nottingham."

The majority of the home's 70 employees will lose their jobs if it closes, he said. Between 45 and 50 are trained professionals such as youth workers and teachers who work directly with young people.