News

The observant amongst you will have noticed that our blogs and news usually appear on a Saturday morning.  However, we’re aiming for weekday posts from now on.  I hope you continue to enjoy them.  Many will be aware that our mission is to ensure young people have a safe and secure home.  We do this by providing the skills, confidence and knowledge to young people who may be setting up home earlier than the average and without lots of support round them.  Part of this mission has always been to make it as real, fun and engaging as possible.  This dream came a step closer this week.  We’re working with a partner (to be announced soon we hope) to secure a flat where we will deliver this training.  Not only will this give young people a flavour of where they may end up living, it will also be bespoke to our courses and fantastically welcoming.  Perhaps most importantly however, is the way it will bring our courses alive.  Not only will young people be able to cook a meal and paint a room, but they’ll be able to meet the neighbours, read the electricity meter as well as learn what electrical appliances really cost to run and meet the landlord too!  We’re incredibly excited about this innovation and development in what we do and how we do it.  We’ll be coming back to you very soon to ask for help.  Just like our young people, we’re going to need to furnish it on a budget! #safeandsecurehome

We’re delighted to be joining the Celebrating Volunteers Picnic on 5th June at Norwich Cathedral.  Volunteers have provided amazing support, vitality and ideas to Your Own Place over the last couple of years and we’re delighted to be able to thank them during Volunteers Week.  We’re hoping for lots of sunshine, loads of interesting stalls and a few treats!  Do come down and say hello, be thanked if you’re a volunteer or sign up to become one!

On 21st April we welcomed poet, care-leaver and chancellor of Manchester University to help us launch our Youth Homelessness Research at St. Giles House Hotel Our research was developed and led by nine young people who had themselves experienced homelessness.  With their experiences they obtained the experiences of others.  We had an amazing evening hearing from Lemn, sharing our work and recognising the support we can offer to young people in transition.