Young adults have been banging pots and pans while parading banners as they desperately seek accommodation after cuts to vital services.

In February it was revealed a change of service provider for Trinity Foyer in Church Street, Maidstone, meant those aged 18 to 24 will have to find somewhere else to live.

Fifty-eight people are currently catered for at the accommodation but many face an uncertain future after their month's notice was serviced two weeks ago.

Ashley Jane, 21, lives at Trinity Foyer and revealed KCC has told the residents, many of whom are vulnerable, that they will not simply be turfed out onto the streets of Maidstone.

He said: "We got told in February that Trinity Foyer will be closed down and they will change from housing 16 to 24-year-olds to just 16 to 17-year-olds.

"Everyone 18 or over is left to move on.

"We are being told that we will get help to find a place but we are still waiting.

"Trinity Foyer helps everybody. Going in there first of all was nerve-wracking but the staff in there are like family. You make friends in there and evolve your life.

"It is a good environment to be in. It'll be painful to leave because I have made friends."

Around 20 people gathered outside Sessions House, Maidstone, to voice their frustrations.

Ashley added: "It will be hard for people my age to find somewhere to live.

"We have been told we aren't going to be made homeless and that we will stay at Trinity Foyer until they find us a place.

"If I don't have somewhere I will be on the streets. It has been forced upon us."

Trinity Foyer has helped young adults with accommodation since it opened in December 1998.

It lends a helping hand to people aged 16 to 24 who have strained relationships with family members or have found themselves homeless for a number of reasons.

The shock news dealt to Ashley and others who live there comes after it was agreed Home Group would no longer provide the service and instead Look Ahead will give support to those aged 16 and 17, leaving older people with no guaranteed accommodation.

Roger Gough, KCC's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “We fully appreciate the strong sense of concern the closure of Trinity Foyer has evoked and recognise the belief among some members of the public that KCC is cutting services for vulnerable young people.

“Nothing could be further from the truth.

“From April 1, we will launch a new redesigned service which puts the needs of the most vulnerable young people at its heart. After careful consideration, our new providers concluded they cannot deliver this vision at Trinity Foyer. This is not a matter of funding, which is being sustained at £2.8m, but of how we can provide the best possible support tailored to the needs of individual young people.

“We are committed to ensuring that no young person who needs support will become homeless and significant resources have been put in place to ensure young people find suitable accommodation.

“For some, this may mean moving to the new provider Look Ahead, others will move to independent living or receive support from the homelessness service for adults.

“Young people will be able to stay on at Trinity Foyer for a short period until the appropriate arrangements have been made.”