Kent completes first council-run children’s home under Project Athena

Kent County Council has completed the first home converted under Project Athena — a programme that takes ordinary family properties and converts them into specialist residential settings for children and young people in care aged eight to 18. The home will take its first residents in the coming months. Three more are planned across the county.

Each home accommodates a maximum of two children. The council wants settings that feel like a family house rather than an institution — giving children a calm, stable base while keeping them close to their own schools, families and friends. Owned and run directly by Kent County Council rather than placed with external providers, the homes are designed to reduce reliance on costly external placements and improve outcomes for children and young people in care.

Paul Webb, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, said: “The completion of our first Project Athena home is a significant milestone and demonstrates our commitment to giving Kent’s children the best possible start in life. We know children achieve better outcomes when they can remain close to their families, schools and support networks. These homes will provide high-quality care in nurturing environments that feel like home, while helping children build confidence, stability and important life skills.”

Project Athena sits within the council’s broader Reforming Kent’s Future strategy. Placing children in external residential care — often far from home — is costly, and the council has stated its ambition to reduce reliance on such placements. With two places per home, the programme is a targeted initiative aimed at children who need the most settled, therapeutic and relationship-based care.

The remaining three homes are still being purchased and converted. No completion dates have been confirmed.