Council runner-up at national awards for work on engaging with young tenants

From left: Mark Cox from Still Game; Heather Cuthbert, Brian Connolly, Rita Connolly, Jeanette Hughes, all volunteers at Connor Road; and Jane McCarry from Still Game.

The team that manages the Young Persons Supported Accommodation in Barrhead, which gives people aged 16-25-years-old a safe and secure environment to live in, clinched second place at the recent Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) National Good Practice Awards for their work on reducing isolation among young people.

They were presented their award by stars of Still Game, Jane McCarry and Mark Cox.

The project aims to equip young people with the skills and experience they require to maintain a tenancy and live independently.

This is developed through intensive support whilst maintaining a culture where young people are treated as adults. The young people live as an independent tenant which mirrors real life, and a tenancy, as far as possible. For this, the service was awarded second place in the Best Practice in Developing Youth Involvement category.

In recent months work has been ongoing to develop a drop-in service for those living there and also to increase the opportunities for residents to influence the way the service is provided.

Councillor Danny Devlin, Housing and Maintenance Services Convener, said: “The work carried out by our staff makes a huge difference to the young people making the transition to living independently, so I am delighted that they have been recognised at a national level. The young residents should also be commended for the efforts they have undertaken in creating a positive place for themselves and their neighbours to live in.”