A NEW service has launched in Dumfries and Galloway helping housing association tenants settle into their homes.
‘My Great Start’ is giving support to tenants to help sustain their tenancies as part of an early intervention programme launched by Wheatley Homes South and Wheatley Foundation.
The service will be rolled out across Dumfries and Galloway and will also help tenants of other housing associations in the region, including Cunninghame Housing Association, Home Group and Riverside Scotland.
Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, My Great Start is delivered in partnership with Independent Living Support, a Dumfries and Galloway-based charity which works across the region to tackle social isolation and support those with mental health issues.
Advisors will support tenants within the first six months of their tenancy with everything from benefits advice and budgeting skills to help getting online, accessing health care, and integrating into their community.
Douglas McAvoy, 48, from Kirkconnel has been receiving support from My Great Start since moving into his home in January.
He said: “After being in a bedsit and a private let that didn’t work out, I wanted to move into a housing association home to improve things for me.
“My Great Start has been helping me with my literacy skills, to help me improve, and they’ve been brilliant. If anything goes wrong, I know there’s people there to help me. It’s a huge relief knowing there’s people there who can help.
“If there are people out there struggling with their tenancy and need some support, I’d definitely tell them to speak to their housing officer about My Great Start. It’s made a huge difference to me, even just knowing there’s someone I can pick up the phone and speak to.”
Alex Lamb, managing director of Wheatley Homes South, said: “At Wheatley, we are doing all we can to support our tenants across Dumfries and Galloway in these difficult times and it’s great to hear the difference this has already made to Douglas.
“My Great Start is an invaluable service which is helping vulnerable tenants avoid the worry of losing their tenancy and we are very proud to be working with Wheatley Foundation to roll it out to tenants of other housing associations across the region.
“This service will help people keep their home and provide the necessary support when they need it most, right at the beginning of their tenancy. The advisors will help tenants organise their finances, improve their confidence and social skills and establish a network in their local community helping them to sustain their tenancy.”
Professor Paddy Gray, chair of Wheatley Foundation, described it as “an invaluable service” and Russell Brown, chair of Independent Living Support added: “To work with Wheatley Foundation, Wheatley Homes South and National Lottery to deliver this innovative project in D&G is progressive and an area of interest that ILS has championed since being founded.”
