Helping young people thrive at The Hive

The Hive in Kersal is a pioneering housing scheme providing affordable accommodation for young people aged 18-25 who are facing homelessness or unsuitable living conditions.

This year, the Hive has welcomed a new cohort of residents, offering a safe and stable place to live while they work, study, or complete training.

Originally opened in 2017 by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the scheme supports up to 14 young people in shared accommodation.

A dedicated housing officer is on site regularly, and Salix Homes also works in partnership with local skills and education providers to offer training sessions and activities as well as holistic support.

One of The Hive’s original success stories is Alex Chaloner…

Alex moved into The Hive when he was just 20-years-old after leaving his parents’ home in Wales to pursue his dream career.

He was born in Salford, but moved to North Wales with his family as a child. He’d always had ambitions to be a plumber but was struggling to find an apprenticeship after leaving college, so he made the bold decision to try his luck back in Salford.

He explained: “When I arrived in Salford, I just had the clothes on my back and £500 in my back pocket. I didn’t know how I was going to survive – I was effectively homeless and was sofa-surfing until I got a place at The Hive and an apprenticeship, and that was the start of being able to turn my life around.”

Alex secured an apprenticeship studying plumbing, heating and gas engineering with a Liverpool based company, but was working on sites across Manchester.

“Those early days were really tough,” he said. “I’d cycle into Manchester for work on my bike every day, money was a real struggle, and I was living out of food banks, but I had a roof over my head, and I was just so determined to pursue my career and get qualified.”

His hard work and determination paid off. Fast forward to today and Alex, now aged 30, is a successful domestic and commercial gas engineer and plumber.

He’s recently moved with his girlfriend into another Salix Homes new-build development – Neighbourhood in Seedley. In a bizarre twist of fate, he also worked on Neighbourhood, commissioning the boilers and air-source heat pumps.

He added: “When I was working on Neighbourhood, I didn’t know I’d end up living there – it’s weird, like it was meant to be.

“There were some dark times looking back, but my story is one of triumph – I was determined to succeed and I did it. I’ve now got my dream career and a new home. Getting a place at The Hive and landing that apprenticeship changed everything for me.”

Liam Turner, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “Alex’s story is a powerful reminder of why The Hive exists – to provide young people with not just a roof over their heads, but the foundation to build a brighter future.

“We’re incredibly proud to have supported him on his journey, and it’s inspiring to see how far he’s come. From securing an apprenticeship to now living in and working on one of our newest developments, Alex is a true example of what’s possible when young people are given the right support at the right time.”