Argyll and Bute

Leaving Home and Housing Education Regional Overview

Work in Schools

Who Does the Work? Some schools provide housing education as part of the curriculum to all S4 pupils, others target “at risk” children only.

Who Pays for It? Delivered as part of the schools own Personal and Social Development programme, on curriculum, or funded for “at risk” pupils through FUSIONS (FUll Services In Our Neighbourhoods and Schools), a joint initiative through A&BC and Argyll & Clyde Health Board

How is it delivered? Info and advice on housing issues, based on SCSH lesson plans, delivered by PSD teachers.
FUSIONS/Social Work(Children & Families) staff go into schools to provide similar training to vulnerable pupils

Who is Targeted? Generally S4 pupils (extended to at risk pupils in S3 –S6)

What Resources Are Used? SCSH’s Streets Ahead Guide available in schools. A local directory of services was created in 2005 that can be used stand alone or inserted into the Streets Ahead Guide.
Lesson Plans based on SCSH I’m Offski! have been used as the basis for some lessons.

How long has work in this (or other) form being going on? Current project has been running for approx 3 years. This LA is actively pursuing the inclusion of the SCSH lesson plans in to the curriculum in ALL schools in Argyll and Bute.

How is the work monitored / evaluated? No current evaluation programme until ALL schools are in a position to provide housing education

Commentary Schools in the Argyll & Bute area were invited to participate in training provided by SCSH and funded by the Council Homeless Service – a good number of schools were able to take up the offer of training, and those who did were very favourably impressed by the lesson plans and have since incorporated them into their PSD curriculum.
The geography of Argyll and Bute was the main reason why some schools were not able to attend the training.
For the more remote island schools, training has been provided by voluntary sector agencies, and this is ongoing.
The voluntary organisations also take part in school open days and lead seminars on leaving home and housing education, using the Streets Adead guides as the basis for information provision.

Work Outwith Schools

Who does the work? Voluntary sector organisations have also had training, funded by the Council homeless Service, which enables then to provide housing information and advice to young people. Argyll & Bute agencies include:

• the HELPLtd project in Dunoon and on the Isle of Bute
• Quarriers ROOFTOPS in Oban
• Blue Triangle in Lochgilphead and Mid-Argyll
• Kintyre Youth Advice Service in Campbeltown
• NCH in Helensburgh
• FUSIONS in all areas

Who pays for it? Streets Ahead Guides provided by Council.

How is it delivered? To all clients of each project, on demand or on assessment to need

Who is targeted? Generally 16 to 25 year olds but for some agencies, to children of 12 years upwards

What resources are used? Streets Ahead Guides
Local directories
Staff time

Agencies Involved