About Us

Everyone deserves a chance to start again

The New Start Project Community CIC was founded on one belief: that safe housing, delivered with genuine care, changes what's possible for a person.

You Are Not a Case Number

Too many supported housing providers treat people as entries on a spreadsheet. You'll be treated as a person with your own story, your own difficulties, and your own way forward.

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You First, Always

There's no one-size-fits-all here. We listen first, then respond to what you actually need — not what a template says someone in your situation should need. Your support plan is written with you, not about you.

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Homes, Not Hostels

You should never feel watched, monitored or managed. You're an adult living in your own home. Support is there when you want it and when you need it — not imposed on you because a policy says so.

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Independence Is the Point

Success isn't you staying with us. It's you managing your own tenancy and getting on with your life. The whole service exists to get you to the point where you don't need it any more.

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We Don't Disappear

When you move out, you can still ring us. The first weeks living alone are the hardest, and that's exactly when most providers stop answering. We keep answering until you'd rather we didn't.

Who You'll Actually Meet

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Your Support Workers

Each house has two part-time support workers, giving 40 hours of cover across the week. They hold or are working toward NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, and all have enhanced DBS clearance.

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Why They Were Hired

We recruit for warmth and reliability as much as qualifications — for the ability to build trust with people who've had very little reason to trust services before. That part can't be taught.

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Paul Sterling, Project Manager

Paul oversees the running of the service, the standards we hold ourselves to, and our relationships with the council and partner agencies — making sure the care we promise is the care you actually get.

We Don't Work Alone

Some things need specialists. We work alongside the organisations who do them best.

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Torbay Council

Housing Options, Housing Needs and the leaving care team — for referrals and for making sure people get the housing they're entitled to.

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FearFree

Domestic abuse specialists providing IDVA support across Torbay, working with us to keep survivors safe.

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TDAS & Recovery Services

Torbay Drug and Alcohol Service and local peer support networks, for anyone working on their recovery.

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Probation Services

Devon & Cornwall Probation, supporting people leaving prison into stable accommodation.

A Community Interest Company

A CIC is a company built for social purpose rather than private profit. In practice that means three things:

  • An asset lock. Every penny of surplus is permanently locked into the company. It can only be spent on housing more people and expanding what we offer — it can't be taken out as profit.
  • Public accountability. We file annual accounts with Companies House and report to the CIC Regulator. Where public money houses vulnerable people, the public should be able to see where it goes.
  • Built to standard from day one. Our properties and management are designed to meet the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 and local HMO standards — not retro-fitted once we're told to.

Want to know what it's actually like?

The clearest picture is the journey itself — from your first night through to living on your own.