The Lodge
Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, too many young people face unstable housing – sofa surfing with friends, unsafe living arrangements, or even nights on the street. For young mums and their babies, that instability can shape a whole lifetime.
The Lodge is an early-years focussed service, providing a safe home and wrap-around personal support for single mothers and pregnant women aged 16–25 and their infants who are at risk of homelessness. Our aim is to offer a stable home and personalised support so every parent has the chance of a fresh start, and every baby can begin life in a nurturing, secure environment.
Why Housing Matters
Knowing my baby was warm and safe meant I could finally breathe and focus on being her mum, not just surviving.
Lodge resident
Our Approach
Living at The Lodge is about more than having a set of keys. Every young mum is part of a small, supported community, with a named support worker and early-years focussed wrap-around care for both her and her baby. Together we work on building confidence, routines and skills so you feel ready for the next step.
Safe Housing
A warm, secure home for you and your baby, with 1-1 support from a named worker, clear house expectations and practical help with benefits, rent and money management, so you can focus on parenting without worrying about where you’ll sleep.
Parenting & Life Skills
Tailored support with the everyday stuff of being a mum: feeding and bedtime routines, bath time, play and bonding, as well as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, form-filling and planning ahead so you feel ready for your own place.
Health & Wellbeing
Support to look after your mental and physical health and your baby’s early development, including space to talk when things feel heavy, links with health visitors and midwives, and information around sleep, stress and relationships.
Community & Connection
Baby groups, relaxed mum meet-ups, group sessions and trips that help you make friends with other parents, share experiences and connect with education, training or work opportunities when you’re ready.
YMCA helped me believe I could be a good mum and showed my baby and me we mattered.
Lodge resident
Say hi to Jo McGrath
Mother & Baby Support Manager, The Lodge
As Mother & Baby Support Manager at The Lodge, Jo is deeply committed to helping every young
mum become the best version of herself. Many of the mums she supports have faced big challenges
before arriving at The Lodge, and Jo’s role is to make sure they never have to face the next part
of their journey alone.
Alongside the wider team, Jo focuses on empowering young mums with the skills, confidence and
encouragement they need to move towards independent living. From building day-to-day routines to
supporting early bonding and nurturing their child’s development, Jo’s passion is seeing both mum
and baby grow in a safe, stable and caring environment.
Quick facts
Every mum deserves to feel safe, heard and capable. We’re here to help you believe that about yourself and to give your baby the calm, loving start they deserve.
Jo, Mother & Baby Support Manager
Applying for a place at The Lodge
If you’re a young mum or pregnant and think The Lodge might be the right place for you and your baby, we’d love to talk things through.
You can contact us directly, or a professional who supports you (such as a social worker, midwife or key worker) can get in touch on your behalf.
How to make a referral or enquiry:
Call The Lodge team for referrals or general enquiries on 01983 861076.
Alternatively, contact Isle of Wight Council Housing Services on 01983 823040 to discuss your housing options.
Picking up the phone can feel like a big step, but our team are friendly, understanding and used to working with young mums who are unsure what to do next.
If you’re worried or not sure whether you’d be eligible, you can still call. We’ll listen, explain the options and help you work out the next best step for you and your baby.
Getting to us
YMCA Isle of Wight, The Lodge, Sandown Rd, Shanklin PO37 6HU
The nearest bus stop is Winchester House.
We are right by Lake Cliff Gardens — only a 5 minute walk.
The nearest train station is Lake, around a 10 minute walk.
If you need help finding us, call: 01983 862441
Housing Performance Report
Should you wish to find out more about our outcomes and impact, our full Housing Performance Report is available below.
View reportHousing Complaints Performance & Service Improvement Report 2023–24
An overview of our complaints process, response performance and service improvements for the year 2023–24.
View report