Nacro Awarded Five-Year Contract for Lincolnshire Youth Housing Service NEST

The service, which supports teenagers in care, leaving care, or facing homelessness, will continue to offer vital accommodation and life skills.

Generic image of a hand reaching for a key, with a blurred background of a living space.
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Generic image of a hand reaching for a key, with a blurred background of a living space.

Lincolnshire County Council has awarded a new five-year contract for its youth housing service, NEST, to Nacro, who have been providing the service since 2015.

The contract, which begins on 31 March 2027, will see NEST continue to offer hub-style accommodation in Boston, Grantham, and Lincoln. All 44 self-contained units feature private kitchens and bathrooms.
Under the new agreement, there will be an increased number of solo properties for young people requiring focused support before moving into the main hubs. Additionally, four units will be specifically allocated for young parents with children. NEST will also provide 61 units of Step Forward accommodation for 18-21-year-olds, allowing the main hubs to concentrate on 16-17-year-olds.
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"NEST has a strong track record of helping young people in care take their first steps towards independence. The service offers older teenagers a place to call home and helps them develop vital life skills, such as managing budgets and household tasks. It also offers advice on making healthy life choices, in areas like relationships, fitness and substance misuse."

Cllr Natalie Oliver · Executive Councillor for Children’s Services
Cllr Oliver added that NEST will help young people rebuild relationships with their families and explore future accommodation options, such as private tenancies or social housing, where appropriate and safe. The current service recently received an Outcome 1 rating from Ofsted, the highest possible grade for supported accommodation.
Based on information from the official source: Lincolnshire County Council (20/10/2026)