Scottish Council for Single Homeless

My Space My Place

Young Persons Guide | Workers Toolkit | Background to the Development | PDF Page Samples (large file) | Download an Order Form

Award Winning Resource

My Space My Place – SCSH’s innovative guide for young tenants – won a prestigious UK Housing Award for Outstanding achievement in social housing in Scotland in November 2006.

Every housing provider knows that young people often struggle to sustain their tenancies and that these struggles can lead to crisis and even homelessness. There are few who would disagree that preventing tenancy failure and homelessness is a better option than picking up the pieces after it occurs. As well as this emotional cost, there are also the financial costs of tenancy failure. Costs to Local Authorities and Housing Providers including loss of rental income, eviction costs, and solicitor’s fees can be as much as £24,000 for each failed tenancy. Click here for an In House article on tenancy failure costs.

The Scottish Council for Single Homeless' Tenancy Sustainment Resource for young people 'My Space, My Place' can play a valuable role in prevention work. By giving young people the advice and information they need in a form that they understand and respond to we can help them to keep their tenancies going.

SCSH can be commissioned to produce local inserts for My Space My Place. Contact Ingrid Fitzsimons (contact us). For details of more extensive customisation options, e.g. for use outwith Scotland click here.

The Young Persons Guide - Contents

My Space Booklet 1

1 - The Basics

An introduction to running your own place for the first time including Tenancy Agreements; Furniture Checklist; Council Tax and Water Rates; Housing Benefit; Electric, Gas, Heating Systems, Smoke Alarms, Ask James.

Sample Page

My Space Booklet 22 - Emergencies

Who to contact in an emergency including Got Your Number; Blowing Your Fuse; Carbon Monoxide; Too Hot To Handle; Sarah Saves The Day; Ask Wendy.

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover

3 - Money Matters

How to save money including Shedding the £s; How Much?!; Money Saving Top Ten; It's In The Bank; The Benefits Scoop; Debt! Debt! Debt!; Ask James

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover4 - The Rights Stuff

Rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords including Tenancy Rights; Private Renting; Home Sweet Home; Spick and Span; Tenancy, Crossword; What To Do When...; Ask Wendy

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover

5 – Feeling Safe

What are normal settling in nerves and what's just not right including Safety Check List; Cash Machine Horror; One Call Too Far; Who Are You Letting In To Your Home?; Drink Safety; All Loved Up; Neighbours From Hell; Hate Crimes

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover6 – Health Check

Stay healthy and feel good including Puff Away; Drink Up!; Just The Facts; All Loved Up; It's A Man Think; Girl Talk; Ask Wendy

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover

7 – Me Myself & I

Mental and emotional well-being for the newly independent including Emotion Chart; Me, Myself & Anger; Me, Myself & Depression; Me, Myself & Self-Harm; What Would You Say?; Ask James

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover8 – Grubs Up

Healthy eating on a tight budget including Good Eating - It Adds Up!; The Good Eating Guide; Shopping Tips; Storage Tips; Cleaning Tips; Tasty Recipes; Waste Not, Want Not; Ask Wendy

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover

9 - What now?

Personal development including Called Up?; Educate Me!; The Next Step; University Of Life; Which Route?; Have You Thought About...; Where To Start; The Score

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My Space Booklet 2 Cover10 - Leaving Care

Extra information for young people who have been looked after including Care Leaver?; Plan It; I Spy; Moola; R'n'R; Life's Jigsaw; Ask Wendy

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My Space My Place Phone Book

11 – Phone Book

The national directory for services and support for young people across Scotland including Emergencies; Tips For Making Phone Calls; Confidentiality; National Helplines; Local Contacts; Thank Yous

11 – Local Directory

You can commission a local directory for your area. Contact The Youth Unit to find out more.

Download an Order Form
Published: November 2005 (YP Guide) and May 2006 (Workers Toolkit)
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