Case Study 2: Schools work and Supported Lodgings: Designing the Project - Chelmsford - National Youth Homelessness Scheme

National Youth Homelessness Scheme

Case Study 2: Schools work and Supported Lodgings: Designing the Project - Chelmsford

Subject: Action Learning
Organisation: YMCA England, Chelmsford YMCA

Project Outline

Chelmsford YMCA has established relationships with local schools and a plan for PSHE lessons on the subject of homelessness has been prepared. The work that has taken place thus far in schools has been focused on peer support, and there is now a need for this to evolve into sessions more specifically targeted at homelessness prevention and education.

Accommodation services in Chelmsford are provided by a variety of agencies, and young people with medium to low support needs are particularly well catered for. However, the need to reduce the use of Bed and Breakfast for 16/17 year olds remains a challenge. A Supported Lodgings Scheme would help tackle this whilst at the same time providing positive outcomes for young people.

Chelmsford YMCA's Action Learning Centre consists of two key activities covering the prevention of homelessness and the provision of accommodation for young people.

The first of these aims to develop and expand schools based work by incorporating prevention of homelessness into PSHE lessons. The second aims to establish a Supported Lodgings scheme across Chelmsford borough. These two elements will be overseen by one full time coordinator who will be employed by Chelmsford YMCA specifically for the Action Learning Centre scheme.

Whilst Chelmsford YMCA will be directly responsible for the delivery of the Action Learning Centre work, the scheme is multi-agency based where support and guidance from Chelmsford Borough Council and Essex, Southend and Thurrock (EST) Connexions will be provided as required.

Schools Work

The schools based work will integrate housing and homelessness issues into PSHE lessons, through the development of relationships already established between local schools and Chelmsford YMCA.

Chelmsford YMCA already provide a number of services for young people within local schools, and employ a full time Youth Support Project Manager who oversees this work. The YMCA has a good amount of experience in providing peer group mentoring and PSHE services to a wide range of young people with hugely varying needs.

This project, initially to be delivered to Year Ten and Eleven pupils, aims to use that experience and existing links to educate young people about homelessness and housing with a view to preventing homelessness when they turn 16.

Outcomes for young people will include:

Gaining a greater understanding of homelessness issues and the realities associated with leaving the family home including temporary accommodation, securing access to housing and maintaining a tenancy, the law and homelessness, and
Gaining a greater understanding of alternative options and sources of advice and information.

During the year, it is proposed that PSHE sessions will be delivered in 5 local schools to approximately 2,500 young people. The project will start by focusing on schools containing pupils more at risk of homelessness, identified according to characteristics outlined in the evaluation of the 'Safe Moves' initiative (2004).

It is also anticipated that young people will be identified who require intensive support regarding their housing circumstances. In these instances it is anticipated that Chelmsford YMCA will link with Connexions Personal Advisors already working in schools to help resolve these issues.

Supported Lodgings scheme

The Supported Lodgings Scheme will accommodate 16 - 17 year olds who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness with host families for a limited period in their homes. It aims to give young people an opportunity to detach themselves from difficult situations which are causing friction at home. It also aims to enable young people to discuss issues with a neutral party and to take steps to rebuild relationships at home.

Outcomes for young people will include:

An alternative source of accommodation for young people requiring a safe, family environment;
An opportunity for 'breathing space' and a neutral perspective on issues, and
An opportunity to develop skills for successful independent living.

It is anticipated that the scheme will have capacity for 10 young people to enter Supported Lodgings during the year.

Supported Lodgings, whilst a new area of work for both Chelmsford YMCA and Chelmsford Borough Council, will be linked in to a network of existing projects which will 'wrap around' the scheme, supplementing its work and increasing chances of success as young people are given a holistic service.

From a wider perspective, it is anticipated that the scheme will link in with other projects including mediation and YMCA employment and training programmes.

Staffing

A full time Supported Lodgings Coordinator will be appointed to set up and run the scheme. A job description and person specification for this role can be found at (see Tool 14 below).

Project Management

Communities and Local Government, as funding partners, will oversee the work of the Action Learning Centre and YMCA England will facilitate co-ordination and networking between this scheme and the five others. Chelmsford Borough Council alongside Chelmsford YMCA will gather quarterly performance data which is then reported to Communities and Local Government.

Budget

£10,000 of Communities and Local Government Homelessness Grant has been made available for this project, which has been match funded by Chelmsford Borough Council (£10,000) Connexions (£10,000), resulting in a total project budget of £30,000.