By Rachel Charman
School students aged 12 and 13 have taken part in a six week course about homelessness run by Southend Council officers.
The Council’s Housing Options team ran sessions for students in year 8 from Futures Community College.
The purpose of the course was to raise awareness of homelessness, and how it can affect people of all age, in particular young people.
The sessions focused on what life for a young homeless person is like. Students also learned about the choices and services available to them if they or someone they know becomes homeless.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Corporate Director for Adult and Community Services Simon Leftley said:
“We were very pleased to be able to deliver this short course at Futures Community College, and were very grateful for the opportunity to do so.
“The students were very receptive.
“Each session included an introduction and brief talk about homelessness from members of the Housing Options team.
“The highlight of the series was a talk by a young volunteer from the YMCA who had been homeless himself. He talked about his experiences and answered questions from the class.
“This was followed by a group activity asking the pupils to imagine they were a homeless young person and to think about factors such as why they became homeless, where they would sleep and where they could go for help.
“To finish off the sessions, a member of the housing options team led a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of living at home.
“By raising awareness of homelessness amongst this age group and by understanding how difficult life as a homeless young person is, it is hoped that future homelessness will be prevented.”
Phil Buckingham, Senior Leader from Futures Community College said: “This has been a very successful series.
“The pupils have enjoyed the sessions and have used the opportunity to ask lots of questions about what life for a homeless young person is like.
“On the final week, pupils bought in cans of food which will be donated to the YMCA.”
