St John's was incorporated as an independent charity in 2009. The charity owns St John's Approved Premises.
In September 1947 the Knights of St Columba Knights
of St Columba, who are a fraternal brotherhood dedicated to promoting social
care and Catholic action purchased 263 Hyde Park Road Leeds to accommodate boys
who were in trouble with the Courts as an alternative to Approved Schools or
Borstal. In 1970 the Home Office announced an experiment with four approved
probation hostels catering for men aged between 19 and 30 years. It was then
decided that further approved probation hostels catering for men should be provided
by retaining some of the hostels previously catering for a younger age group,
which had become redundant with the implementation of S7(2) of the peoples and
young children's act 1969. The first of these was St Johns which re-opened as
an Approved Probation Hostel on the 15 July 1971. Following this decision 261
Hyde Park Road was purchased and later 259 Hyde Park was also purchased and
furnished by the Knights of St Columba to the very high standard they are today.
Whilst the Approved Premises are owned by the St John's Approved Premises charity, they are directed by the Knights of St Columba, who appoint a management committee drawn from all walks of life. The committee is responsible to the Home Office who set the standards The West Yorkshire Probation Board also have a represntative on the Committee and is advised by senior probation managers.