North Ayrshire Supported Accommodation

North Ayrshire Supported Accommodation (NASA) opened on the 1 July 2002. The project is a partnership between Quarriers, North Ayrshire Council and Cunninghame Housing Association and comprises three services - NASA Saltcoats, NASA Kilwinning and NASA Outreach.

NASA Saltcoats provides support and accommodation for young people of both genders aged 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness. The project has 19 self-contained bedsits with en-suite facilities within the main building and four attached single person flats. The flats give young people the chance to experience a higher level of independence while still accessing support. The project also has an IT Suite and a range of spaces that are used for individual and group activities.

NASA Kilwinning provides support and accommodation to 5 young women, aged 16 -25 years, in a small group living setting. Each young woman has her own bedroom with en suite shower room. All young women share the use of a kitchen, laundry room and communal living and dining area.

The young people referred to the projects may have a range of support needs and have often experienced other issues in their lives apart from homelessness, such as being in care, mental health problems, bereavement, sexual assault, learning difficulties, sexual abuse, family breakdown or neglect. They may have a range of current problems such as drug and/or alcohol issues, self harm, behavioural difficulties and offending behaviour.

The projects aim to support young people to work through whatever difficulties they are experiencing and get ready for independent living.

Our aim at is to provide good quality accommodation within a safe environment and provide young people with the time, space and resources to learn the skills which they will need to live independently.

All young people in both projects are allocated a key worker to assist them with developing their independent living skills and provide them with support. There are no young people who only receive accommodation. How much support each individual receives and how long they stay in the project depends on their individual level of need. The young person works alongside their worker to develop an individual support plan. This will usually cover areas such as accommodation, work and training, health, relationships, budgeting, etc. Based on the young person’s individual plan, support in the relevant areas will be agreed with them. This may take the form of one to one support, group work, accessing specialist help, workshops and practical sessions such as supported cooking and supported shopping. Regular reviews take place every six weeks and the young person is able to invite anyone they feel is appropriate, such as relatives, Throughcare workers, social workers and Careers Officers.

Once the young person and staff feel that they have developed their skills and are ready to become more independent the young person will be reactivated in order to be allocated housing.

Both residential projects are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with at least two members of support staff being present on shift at any given time. Young people referred to the project must have a homeless priority within North Ayrshire and we work closely with North Ayrshire Council Homeless Assessment, Prevention and Advice Team to achieve the best long term outcomes for each young person.

NASA Outreach Service is based within the Saltcoats project and provides ongoing support to young people once they move into their own accommodation. This service works with 16 -25 year olds all over North Ayrshire who are responsible for their own tenancies. The Outreach service aims to provide young tenants with support in order that they can successfully maintain their tenancies and prevent repeat homelessness. All young people moving from the residential service into their own homes are referred to Outreach for on going support. Young people are also referred from NAC Housing Officers, ASBO team or young people can self refer. The team can provide practical support with budgeting, maintaining a home, accessing benefits, accessing services, education and training, being a good neighbour and dealing with loneliness and isolation.

In a similar way to the residential service young people are allocated a key worker who works with them to develop and deliver a support plan to meet the young person’s individual needs. The Outreach Service usually operates during office hours, but can accommodate planned support out with these times.