Working together to prevent homelessness among care experienced young people
Colleagues from Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), including Homelessness Services, Social Work, Health and Social Care Connect, and third sector organisations, recently came together to take part in training delivered by the team leading the Glasgow Youth Ask and Act Pilot.
The pilot is one of 15 projects across Scotland testing the new Ask and Act approach to homelessness prevention. The approach supports the introduction of new duties under the Housing (Scotland) Act and strengthens efforts to identify housing concerns earlier and prevent homelessness before it happens.
Led by Glasgow City HSCP, the pilot focuses on young people supported by the Continuing Care and Aftercare Service (CCAS). Care experienced young people can face an increased risk of homelessness as they move towards independent living, making early support and intervention particularly important.
A key part of the pilot has been the development of a training programme co-designed by young people and staff. Through surveys, interviews and discussions, care experienced young people have helped shape the training to ensure it reflects their experiences and addresses the issues that matter most to them.
Andrea Deighan, Team Leader at CCAS, said: “Partnership working is the absolute core engine of The Promise Scotland. By working together, we can provide the support, opportunities and stability that young people need to thrive.”
The training helps staff better understand the challenges young people may face and encourages services to work together to identify housing risks early and provide the right support at the right time.
Dawn Newport, Assistant Service Manager within HSCP Homelessness Services, said: “Partnership working with Homelessness Services has been central to the pilot's progress, helping to strengthen links between housing, social work, services supporting care experienced young people and community partners. By working together, teams are improving their understanding of each young person’s needs, identifying housing risks earlier, and creating clearer pathways into the right advice, support and accommodation options.”
Alongside the training, the pilot has supported the development of a Young Person's Housing Toolkit to help young people prepare for, secure and maintain a permanent tenancy.
A group of young people are also working with creative agency Braw Talent to create an animation for the Glasgow City Council website. The animation will provide accessible information about housing pathways and the support available to young people.
The project is also working with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) across the city to increase opportunities for eligible care experienced young people to access settled accommodation. Staff have been working closely with housing providers and Homelessness Services to promote the Care Leavers Housing Protocol and encourage more organisations to sign up.
Social Care Worker Cal Haddow McKitterick said: “The Care Leavers Housing Protocol is about more than finding somewhere to live. It is about listening, working together and supporting young people to build a future. A home is not just a place, it is a foundation for independence, confidence and belonging.”
As part of the tenancy readiness pathway, the Continuing Care and Employability Service (CCES) recently partnered with DRC Youth Project to deliver a four-week DIY course. The programme gave young people practical experience and helped them develop everyday skills such as changing light bulbs, basic decorating and carrying out simple household maintenance.
By combining training, practical support and partnership working, the Glasgow Youth Ask and Act Pilot is helping care experienced young people build the skills, confidence and support networks needed to live independently. The learning from the pilot will also help services prepare for the introduction of Scotland’s new homelessness prevention duties in 2028.