WHAT IF Male

WHAT IF Male project is based in the Southside of Glasgow and comprises of a core building which consists of project base/office and five flats for young people, the project also has additional flats scattered within high rise buildings in the local community. The project has a mixed gender staff team, is staffed 24/7 and also provides response on call cover.

The project offers a unique model of support that is not replicated anywhere else in the UK at present to young males aged 18-25 years,  with complex needs, history of trauma and/or abuse who have been unable to sustain previous accommodation placements the project develops the service offered through the direct involvement of young people – through consultation and involvement of young people we try to ensure that the supports offered met the needs identified by young people.

Individuals receive a minimum of 29 hrs per week support from the project. Young people receive housing support (i.e. independent living sills) and therapeutic support (i.e. emotional support, access to counselling, building social networks and strengths etc). Each young person completes a support plan with their key worker, which will specify the supports and goals that they have identified, and this is reviewed regularly. All supports offered by the project promote the empowerment of young people that we support – negotiation with young people is continually employed.

Many of the young people we support have experienced complex trauma and rejection. Part of our therapeutic role is providing appropriate re- nurturing to assist young people to work through attachment issues- we are aware of young people’s fear of rejection and are patient and consistent in meeting their support needs – dependence upon the project and the supports offered is often a part of healing, and by continually ensuring that requests for support are met this enables young people to regain a sense of security and build self esteem, which will allow them to move towards independence.

The Project operates a non-exclusion policy therefore will never exclude any young person from the supports offered by the service. Young people will not be discharged for any reason, including challenging behaviour. Young people supported by the project will have often experienced compounded rejection and instability and will require on going reassurance to the projects commitment to support. Young people will still experience consequences to their actions/ behaviour - but rather than artificial punitive measures the young people we support will learn through natural consequences.

Access / referrals to the service are made through Commissioning Officer at Glasgow Homelessness Partnership.