AN EAST Renfrewshire Council project which provides supported accommodation for young people has been praised at national level.

The team which manages the Young Persons Supported Accommodation in Barrhead, which gives people aged 16 to 25 a safe and secure environment to live in, clinched second place at the recent Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) National Good Practice Awards. 

They were presented their award by stars of Still Game, Jane McCarry and Mark Cox.

The project aims to equip young people with the skills and experience they require to maintain a tenancy and live independently. This is developed through intensive support, whilst maintaining a culture where young people are treated as adults. The young people live as an independent tenant which mirrors real life, and a tenancy, as far as possible. 

For this, the service was awarded second place in the Best Practice in Developing Youth Involvement category. Work has been ongoing to develop a drop-in service for those living there.

Councillor Danny Devlin, housing and maintenance services boss, said: “The work makes a difference to the young people making the transition to living independently.”