Shelter Cymru

Education conference

23 November 2006

Briefing and recommendations

Contents

Introduction 2

Who came? 3

Speakers and contributors 4

Peer Learning Project 11

Creative workshops for young people 11

Forum Theatre 13

Debate – key issues raised 14

Feedback and suggestions 16

Outcomes – where do we go from here? 17

Acknowledgements 18

Introduction

Shelter Cymru received Section 180 funding through the Welsh Assembly Government’s good practice in homelessness grant to run a one-day education conference in 2006. The aim of the conference was to highlight good policy and practice and to show where and how education is being used as a tool to prevent youth homelessness in Wales. .

A lack of support, advice and information have often been considered contributory factors in causing homelessness and repeat homelessness among young people. Shelter Cymru along with other organisations in Wales and beyond are attempting to address this situation through the development of educational resources and groundbreaking projects.

The conference was an opportunity for practitioners and policy makers to see how these resources and projects help prevent homelessness and how homelessness prevention can feature more prominently in the school curriculum.

The event was targeted at teachers, youth workers, voluntary and statutory sector representatives who work in education, housing or homelessness prevention, civil servants and Social Services officers.

Given that this conference was looking at issues affecting young people – Shelter Cymru were also very eager to attract young people to come to the event and promoted the conference in every secondary school and college in Wales.

Who came?

148 delegates from

Voluntary and statutory bodies

Barnado’s Cymru

Digartref Ynys Môn

Funky Dragon

GISDA

Cymorth Cymru

Llamau Limited

NCH Cymru

Shelter Cymru

Scottish Council for Single Homeless

Swansea Young Single Homeless Project

Welsh Assembly Government – Housing Division

Urdd Gobaith Cymru

Welsh Local Government Association

Housing Associations

Cardiff YMCA Housing Association

Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd

Cymdeithas Tai Hafan

Trothwy Cyf

Valleys to Coast Housing

Wallich Clifford Community

Local Authorities

Bridgend County Borough Council – Homelessness Prevention Team

Carmarthenshire County Council – Housing Department

Swansea – Youth Offending Team & Homelesness Prevention Team

Caerphilly County Borough Council – Housing Options

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Newport City Council – Housing Advice

Pembrokeshire County Council – Homelessness Prevention

Rhondda Cynon Taff – Children’s Services

Shropshire County Council – Homelessness Division

Torfaen Borough Council – Policy Support

Vale of Glamorgan Youth Services

Wrexham County Borough Council – Social Services & Housing

Miscellaneous

Legal Services Commission

Iechyd Da Nurses – Local Health Board

DART – Disability Advisory Resource Team

Fernhill Youth Project

Open College Network Wales

Times Educational Supplement

Menter Iaith Taf-Elai

Immtech – music and multimedia training providers

Young People from:

Gisda

Shelter Cymru’s Peer Learning Project

Bridgend College

Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd

Digartref Ynys Môn

Valleys to Coast Housing

Speakers and contributors

(1)A commitment to working in partnership

Christine Chapman AM, Deputy Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning delivered the opening speech.

Key points:

  • The Deputy Minister was keen to demonstrate the commitment of the Welsh Assembly Government to working with organisations such as Shelter Cymru in order to improve public services in Wales.
  • Progress on the National Homelessness Strategy – grant funding has been increased tenfold since 1998. This year the WAG is providing over £6 million to support over 130 homelessness projects across Wales.
  • Despite a reduction in homelessness and the numbers in Bed and Breakfast accommodation, too many young people are still finding themselves homeless. Too many young people remain unaware of the options available to them.
  • In 2001 Wales was the first country to provide statutory homelessness protection for young people aged 16-17 and also for care leavers and some other young people under 21. However this is a reactive rather than proactive measure and doesn’t cover everyone.
  • The Deputy Minister thanked Shelter Cymru for their work in developing and promoting the primary and secondary Housemate packs and also for establishing a database of initiatives across Wales that can provide young people with practical information and understanding on housing issues.
  • The WAG is also funding the ‘Clic’ resource, which includes information for young people on housing problems and how to address them. Shelter Cymru has provided information in developing this resource.
  • The education work being carried out ties in to the WAG’s ‘Extending Entitlement’ document and the Child Poverty Strategy.
  • The 10 entitlements – available at aim to promote opportunity and choice for young people, helping them to make informed decisions in their lives.
  • The entitlements are to be delivered at a local level through the 22 Young People’s Partnerships (YPPs).
  • The WAG through its ESF funded Participation Project ‘Your Voice Your Choice’ is working to provide opportunities for all young people aged 11 – 24 to get involved at all levels of government.
  • To make sure that young people’s involvement in the project is worthwhile, free training is available for all young people 11 to 24 years of age.
  • Housing Advice has improved for young people through the network of housing advice services run by organisations such as Shelter Cymru. In order to improve housing issues further, more needs to be done to link young people to local and national support services.
  • The Deputy Minister closed by emphasising the need for building stronger links between education and housing services to improve homelessness prevention among young people.

(2)Coordinating homelessness prevention education

Rhian Jones, Shelter Cymru’s Education Coordinator gave an overview of Shelter Cymru’s pioneering Education Service, which was launched in 2001 and is the only scheme of its kind in Europe.

Aims and objectives: Help young people to have a positive home-leaving experience; encourage them to get involved in housing within their own communities; influence their attitudes towards homelessness.

Resources: Housemate secondary andprimary, Key to the Door, Housemate website

Support: An Advisory Group meets twice a year to discuss ways of developing and improving the service.

Different ways of delivering the service:

  • Encouraging teachers to use the packs as part of PSE lessons and also Welsh, English, Drama, Citizenship.
  • 2005 survey – Housemate is used by 55% of secondary schools
  • Shelter Cymru staff deliver workshops and sessions in schools
  • 7,000 children & young people in 55 schools & youth clubs have received a session on homelessness since 2001
  • Encouraging more schools to undertake Key Skills projects based on housing and homelessness
  • Adapting resources for use within the Welsh Bac framework – widening appeal and usability of the Housemate resource

The Present

The ‘Opening Doors’ Appeal: Shelter Cymru has worked in partnership with the Urdd over the past 18 months to raise awareness of housing and homelessness issues amongst its 50,000 members aged 8-25. Manon Wyn from the Urdd spoke about the success of training sessions for staff on the use of Housemate and how they were now in a position to pass on vital information to children and young people. The appeal has also raised awareness through workshops at the Urdd Eisteddfodau in 2005 and 2006, through visits to schools and organised events in Urdd clubs throughout Wales and through a carol writing competition. The appeal has proved to be an extremely positive working relationship between two voluntary sector organisations in Wales and was brought to a successful and satisfactory end at the conference.

  • New resources – a need to keep the Housemate pack fresh. Launch of ‘A Career in Housing’ module exploring the range of careers available in the field. Good partnership work with Swansea Housing Association and the Chartered Institute of Housing
  • Opened up new doors – promotion through Careers Wales events
  • Local Authorities’ Local Homelessness Strategies – what is being done to prevent homelessness through education in each area?
  • Local Authorities are approaching things differently. Examples of good practice include Carmarthenshire, Vale of Glamorgan, Merthyr Tydfil.
  • Establishing links via Young People’s Partnerships
  • Rhondda Cynon Taff Pilot project – an example of how to set up a schools’ programme and offer localised information to young people.

Looking to the future of the Education Service:

  • Many organisations are trying to engage schools. Why not integrate our approach and draw on each other’s respective areas of expertise?
  • The PSE curriculum will change in 2008. Shelter Cymru will develop new resources in response to the changes and will gain feedback on what works best when teaching young people about the issues.
  • We need to look at ways of increasing usage of the pack in schools.
  • Influencing the decision makers - demonstrating the need for and value of preventative education, through events like this.
  • The people and the resources are already in place – a call for homelessness prevention education to gain the recognition it deserves.

(3)Supporting young people and enabling them to fulfil their potential

Swansea Young Single Homeless Project (SYSHP)’s Education Worker and Peer Education Worker delivered a presentation on the organisation’s work.

Mission Statement

  • SYSHP is a partnership of young people, staff and volunteers managed by a voluntary management committee
  • Our purpose is to enable young people with housing issues to take up their rights
  • To support young people to develop the skills needed to live independently
  • To support young people in becoming active participants in the community in which they live

Core Values

  • Young people have a right to be visible and to be heard
  • Young people have a right to live in safe and affordable accommodation suited to their needs
  • SYSHP will at all times make decisions in an open and honest way and wherever possible will involve young people in the process
  • Young people have the right and will be consulted on the running of the project and have a right to be represented on the management committee
  • Young people have a right to receive a service irrespective of sex, race, sexuality, religion, disability or background

SYSHP offers:

Floating support – a project in partnership with Swansea Housing Association. SYSHP provides support to 24 young people aged between 16 and 24 living in their own tenancies.

Tenancy support – A project in partnership with the City and County of Swansea’s Housing department. SYSHP provides support to 42 young people aged between 16 and 25.

SYSHP has always offered activities coupled with young people’s participation in the running of the organisation. It became apparent that this could be developed into further provision of education and learning opportunities…this led to the birth of the New Opportunities Team.

The New Opportunities Team consists of the following elements:

(1) Activities Project

  • Activities form a launch pad from fun to participation to educational achievement
  • New interactive and innovative experiences engage young people and improve self esteem

(2) Participation

  • Providing opportunities for young people to be heard and represented in the decision making process at an organisational and local level
  • To actively encourage the young people to provide their own solutions to the challenges they face

(3)Education

Promote and encourage positive personal development

Facilitate the learning of independent living skills

Provide learning and training opportunities

(3) Peer Education Project

  • To establish and develop a peer education scheme within SYSHP
  • To deliver peer-led sessions on homelessness and its effects in secondary schools in Swansea for Years 10, 11 and 12
  • To train and support young people to become Peer Educators

(4)Developing and delivering a schools programme on Anglesey

Helen Munro is Community Development Officer for Digartref Ynys Môn, which is a charitable organisation offering the following:

  • Supported housing project for Young Single Homeless People (16 – 25 years)
  • 8 bed hostel with 2 bungalows alongside
  • Tenancy Support Service
  • Learn 4 Life Programme
  • Community Development
  • Counselling Support
  • Day Centre for socially excluded

The Community Development aspect of the organisation’s work can be divided into the following categories:

  • Awareness Raising in schools
  • Awareness Raising in Youth Groups
  • Providing ‘Drop In’ facilities
  • Development work with Communities First

What are the benefits of working with Schools?

  • Through education, we can better inform our young people so that they can leave home safely and securely

Developing the programme

  • How to deliver it?
  • Who to aim it to?

Key considerations

Session content

What to include in one session / examine the reasons for homelessness / where could homelessness have been prevented / consult the Young People / how many are homeless / who is homeless / why are some people homeless / what is done to help homeless people / misconceptions of homelessness

Taking it to the schools

Promoting the programme in schools / approaching teachers / developing a teachers pack of information / demonstrating how the pack fits into the curriculum / meet with staff beforehand / contacting and following up / obtaining feedback

Needs mapping

Important to get feedback from the pupils / questionnaire / feedback from teachers on delivery of the session

Observations – Negative Issues

No response from schools / follow up with phone calls / Use examples of feedback from other schools / Promote how valuable it is

Observations – Positive Issues

Being remembered / Work experience / Opportunities / Sharing the experience

(5)Involving young people in leaving home and housing education – a Scottish model

Shelter Cymru attended a conference organised by the Scottish Council for Single Homeless in 2005 and were very eager for them to come to talk at our Education Conference to share good practice and to showcase their different educational resources.

Ingrid Fitzsimons, Housing Education Project Worker for SCSH started her talk with a home smart quiz and asked the delegates a series of general questions about housing and support.

The work of SCSH’s Youth Unit is shaped and influenced by young people and the workers through consultation and focus groups. It includes:

  • Raising the profile of youth housing issues
  • Promoting and supporting leaving home and housing education
  • Promoting models of good practice
  • Supporting local authorities in developing local youth housing strategies
  • Monitoring national policy and assessing its impact on young people who are accessing housing
  • Influencing decision makers at all levels to ensure policies recognise the needs of young people
  • Creating leaving home and housing booklets/magazines/packs/CD ROMs/DVDs
  • Training workers

Ingrid talked about the resources that have been developed by SCSH:

Streets Ahead

  • I’m Offski lesson plans and video
  • “Watch this space” consultation on leaving home & housing education
  • Development group: Streets Ahead created by young people for young people
  • Anonymous CD case containing 24 booklets on leaving home and housing issues identified by young people

My Space, My Place

My Space, My Place is a new resource aimed at helping young people to sustain their tenancies. A series of themed magazine cover a range of tenancy issues. Cartoons and illustrations are used throughout and all the magazines have been extensively tested with young people to make sure they are accessible and informative.

The workers toolkit consists of a Young Persons Guide (11 magazines in a special carry case) with an additional magazine for workers and a CD-ROM packed with useful material. The toolkit is intended for all workers supporting young people in their tenancy. The workers magazine includes personal stories as well as practical advice on helping young people sustain their tenancies, making best use of the My Space My Place pack and a guide to the CD-ROM.
The CD-ROM includes fifteen session plans for working with young people preparing for and settling into their own tenancies.

Home smart is a campaign running through the autumn of 2006 to ensure every pupil aged 14-15 knows the basic facts about homelessness and how to avoid it. Ingrid also spoke about the website: which includes an online version of Streets Ahead as well as links to other educational resources.

Leaving home and housing education is continually changing and Ingrid’s speech clearly demonstrated the SCSH’s constant commitment to involving young people in the development of new resources.

Peer Learning Project

Shelter Cymru’s Peer Learning Project was launched in 2002. The aim of the project is to recruit and train young people from partner agencies and enable them to deliver information to their peers on issues surrounding housing and homelessness.

To date, twenty young people who have experienced homelessness have delivered over 40 presentations to nearly 2,000 people (in schools, youth organisations, to Assembly Ministers and also to the wider public).

Shelter Cymru has worked with young people from Swansea Young Single Homeless Project, DEWIS, Llanelli Foyer, Cyrenians Cymru and Cymdeithas Tai Hafan. The young people have, between them, achieved 62 Open College Network qualifications. The qualifications at Level 2 or above have been gained in: ‘Communication Skills with Young People’; ‘Groupwork Skills’; Peer Education Skills’. Two Peer Educators also went on to achieve Senior Peer Educator status by achieving OCN (Level 3) accreditation in ‘Training the Trainer’.

The most recent group, including members from SYSHP, Llanelli Foyer and Cymdeithas Tai Hafan delivered their presentation, ‘Plain Simple Truth’ to delegates at the conference.

They talked about the different types of homelessness and the reasons for it, including a section on domestic abuse. The group also looked at benefits and young people’s entitlements.

Undoubtedly, the most remarkable part of the presentation was hearing about the young people’s experience of homelessness and how they have now turned their lives around.