Homing In Conference 2007

Friday 1 June, Stirling Management Centre, Stirling University Campus, Stirling

For the last two years the Homing In Conference has had a full-day session for young people to express their views on services in a range of creative ways. 2007 was no exception with the Grand Designs activity. Ten young people took on the task of designing a supported accommodation unit. Not only did they have to work out the layout, the size of rooms and the facilities, they also had to work to a tight budget.

Download the Grand Designs report here

At the end of the day the young people presented their work, explaining the compromises and the trade-offs they had made in order to avoid overspending. They talked us through their mission statement for the unit which set out the core values they had set. And with the help of computer wizardry, delegates were treated to a “fly-through” of a 3D graphical model of the accommodation. The young people came from Geilsland School, Move On in Dundee, Quarriers What If, Glasgow Stopover and NCH Preparation for Life. The session was made possible by John Gilbert Architects, who put in a tremendous amount of work beforehand and on the day.

In the words of delegates it was: “a great conference, I thoroughly enjoyed the variety and the practical nature”; “vibrant and positive, yet professional”; “the workshops were good”. Important was “meeting others working in a similar area”. Another commented “I would highly recommend the event”.

FULL PROGRAMME PDF & WORKSHOP DETAILS HERE

Programme
10.00 Welcome from the Conference Chair
10.05 Developing supported accommodation Alison Glen of John Gilbert Architects on the challenges of designing and building a supported accommodation unit
10.15 Grand Designs: your ideal supported accommodation unit Working in groups, delegates will generate ideas and outline priorities for developing a supported accommodation unit. While this is happening, a group of invited young people will work with an architect to create their own design.
11.10 Coffee
11.30 Choice of workshops - you can attend one
12.45 Lunch
13.45 Choice of workshops - you can attend one
15.00 Coffee break
15.15 Training young people to build their own homes Jill Cronin, Policy and Strategy Manager, Regeneration and Housing, South Ayrshire Council and Jess Christman, Development Manager, Community Self-Build Scotland
15.40 Grand Designs Revealed Highlights of the best ideas produced by delegates in the morning session, followed by a presentation of the supported accommodation unit design created by young people during the day.
16.00 Close

Sessions
1 Housing briefing session: a legal update Alice Ann Jackson, Convener, SAY Women
2 Rewards for learning: nurturing success in young people with housing issues Wendy Devall, SCSH
3 Using graphic facilitation to engage with young people Karen Irvine , Infusion Co-operative
4 Repairing the harm: using restorative justice techniques Derek Brookes, SACRO Consultant
6 Ready to let go? Disengaging with young people Carole Simpson,Open Door Fife & Colin Paton,Dundee Cyrenians
7 What we want from a support service Link Living service users
8 Whose 'best interests'? The impact of UK asylum legislation and policy on unaccompanied asylum seeking children Jo Brady, Scottish Refugee Council
9 Practical methods for sustaining tenancies Ingrid Fitzsimons, SCSH Youth Unit
10 YouthBank, a grant making and empowerment initiative run by young people for young people Heather McVey, Development Officer – Youthlink Scotland , plus 2 young people active in YouthBanks

View programme for Homing In Conference 12th May 2006

View previous conference activities for young people

Find out what previous delegates thought about the Homing In Conference here