Cardigan House is 26 bed approved premises in Leeds owned by Progress to Change and is run in partnership with the Probation Service, under contract from the Ministry of Justice. Cardigan House has a long history of being used for positive purposes, with it first being used as a ‘safe house’ by the Ripon Diocese of the Church of England from 1932, when it was opened as such by the Earl of Harewood. It was repurposed as a Bail and Probation hostel from 1970 and in recent times it has evolved into ‘approved premises’, providing accommodation for people on Probation who are leaving custody or have been assessed as being in need of such an environment whilst already in the community. Referrals come from Probation workers, who work alongside the approved premises staff to manage any potential harm that might me posed by the resident through additional measures such as curfews and alcohol and drug testing.

There is also a strong rehabilitative culture at Cardigan House, where staff are trained on providing a welcoming and enabling environment which in turn allow residents to successfully resettle into the community. Residents are offered guidance with practical skills such as money management and basic living skills (for example there is a regular cooking group) and are also expected to be of good behaviour and learn appropriate boundaries and address the underlying factors behind their past offending. There are numerous purposeful activities taking place, including a workshop and the opportunity to help in maintaining our gardens. 

Facilities in the hostel include:

• Cardigan House entrance lounge, TV lounge, dining room, training group and interview rooms.
• 26 single rooms, each with washbasins.
• Disabled access facilities, including a ground floor accessible bedroom.
• All ethnic and cultural needs can be catered for.
• Residents’ medical needs are handled through local GPs.