New games table helps to break down barriers

A NEW multi-use games table at TLA’s Lowell House is helping to break down barriers and enable young tenants to settle into their new home.

Lowell House, which opened in April, is part of My G.A.F.F. Leeds (MGL), a government funded initiative that aims to prevent young people with a history of street homelessness and /or rough sleeping from developing entrenched behaviours that could impact their ability to maintain successful accommodation in the future.

It provides long term accommodation and specialist intense support to 18-25-year-olds and can accommodate up to five young people at any one time. Each tenant has their own studio apartment plus access to communal facilities including a living toom which now houses an impressive multi-use games table.

“As a living room the facility wasn’t getting used so we discussed with tenants what would encourage them to use it and a games table came up,” said MGL Team Leader Helen Wilks.

A plea went out to TLA and was picked up by Senior Property Manager Ian Atkinson and our corporate partner, leading UK credit management specialists Lowell. Both Ian and Lowell already had strong links to Lowell House; Ian had been responsible for the building’s renovation from former offices to supported accommodation while Lowell had partially funded the transformation.

They both had fundraising missions planned, and the money raised by Ian taking part in the Leeds half marathon and Lowell’s ‘Miles in May’ challenge for colleagues paid for the games table where pool, air hockey and table tennis can all be played.

 “Now the living room gets used all the time. Tenants are happy to have support sessions in there and staff can get involved which helps break down barriers and open up conversations. While playing a game and distracted, tenants are more comfortable, free and less guarded in what they say,” explained Helen.

This relaxed approach to support sessions is reflective of how Lowell House operates. Instead of a traditional consequence / sanction-based approach, Lowell House’s 24/7 staff team focuses on a more holistic way of working with restorative conversations around why certain behaviours are unacceptable and how to make sure they don’t happen again.

“As a result, we find we don’t have repeat behaviours from the same person unless it’s triggered and as a tight knit team, we are getting to know the young people really well so know what their triggers are and how to avoid them,” said Helen.

“It’s going really well. Our initial focus has been on getting tenants out of survival mode; letting them know that they are safe here, there is no rush to move on and their home won’t be suddenly taken away from them as previous placements may have been.”