Introducing our new Learning Lounge training programme

Hi, hello, fàilte, walcum to our Learning Programme for 2024. I am Laura the new(ish) Learning Lead for Homeless Network Scotland. Some of you may have already met me at our sold-out online training sessions or at commissioned workshops for your organisation or regional Housing Options hub. We have already delivered 10 sessions and trained 150 people since I started in May, wow!

I am excited to share with you our refreshed training programme and some exciting new developments in the pipeline. 

Since I started the role in May, the list of organisations on the Housing Regulator’s watch list has grown longer, and more and more councils have declared a housing emergency. Since we started planning the new programme, the Scottish Government has announced a nationwide Housing Emergency, and the Housing Bill’s proposed prevention duties have been debated in Parliament.  

What does this mean for our sector’s learning and development? Now more than ever, we need to understand the history and policy landscape so we can reflect on how we ended up here.

We need to learn more about well documented good practice and what works preventing homelessness in communities.

And we need to focus on where the system is not working for marginalised people and groups.

It is important that we share our collective knowledge with a wider set of connected services and community groups, beyond traditional housing and homelessness teams. 

Our Learning Lounge modules are designed to equip you and your team with the knowledge, skills, confidence and connections you need to effectively deliver your important work.

Our programme combines what members have asked us to develop, with evidence and research into what is working to end homelessness.


Training for Individuals 

Our open programme has three core modules running across the year, covering an introduction to relevant legislation and policy; what we know works to prevent homelessness; and understanding the impact of inequality in the homelessness context.  

Interactive sessions are held online via Teams and later in the year we will be returning to Glasgow city centre at your request. Each session provides an invaluable opportunity to hear from members across Scotland and learn from each other and our expert trainers.  

Whether you are a case worker, support worker, new volunteer or a board member, our three sessions will give you a good grounding by covering the evidence, good practice principles and challenges arising across the homelessness sector. 

Our current modules include: 

  • A Rough Guide to Homelessness Policy and Legislation 
  • Closer to Home: a place-based approach to preventing homelessness 
  • The Unequal Risk: an equality lens in housing and homelessness 

Registration is now live in the Learning Lounge, and you can book a course today. 


Training for Organisations 

Our in-house programme focuses on building practical skills and helping teams to connect around innovative solutions. We deliver sessions online, in person or in a hybrid setup for organisations and community groups across Scotland.  

We work with homelessness service providers, local authorities and housing associations to design the perfect standalone module or cohesive training package.  

Our ten available modules help you to connect with the complex landscape, learn more about existing legal duties and act in a more person-centered way. 

Navigating the landscape in Scotland  

  • An introduction to policy 
  • Prevention and a place-based approach 

Complying with current frameworks and legal duties 

  • Housing First 
  • The Housing Bill and prevention duties 
  • Equality and equity  
  • Equality impact assessment 

Person-centred approaches 

  • Trauma informed approaches and psychologically informed environments 
  • Stigma and perceptions 
  • Lived experience and co-design 
  • Wellbeing at work 

➡ To find out more or discuss a bespoke module, get in touch with Laura to explore creating in-house training for your team or organisation.


What’s new and coming soon? 

There are lots of new developments across the learning programme this year. Here is a quick summary of what is new: 

  • A training module about challenging stigma and perceptions of homelessness has been collaboratively designed by Homeless Network Scotland Associate David Pentland and will launch on 5 December. 
  • An eLearning platform will be launching soon with courses and shorter on-demand webinars 
  • Specialist modules about health and homelessness have been requested and are being scoped 
  • The return of in-person training for all of you who love learning with a cup of tea or coffee instead of on Teams 
  • Tailored sessions designed for line managers, senior managers and board members are being developed 

If you have a training idea or module you would like to see us deliver in future, please reach out and get in touch with Laura. 

Training Funding available 

Don’t forget, if you don’t have access to an organisational training budget, we do sponsor some free open programme places and St. Martin in the Fields Frontline Network offer a training fund of £500 for individual training and £1500 for group training. Find out more about their eligibility criteria and how to apply for funding. 

We hope to see you soon, or dreckly as the Cornish would say (yes there will be more Cornish language sharing in the training slides for all the polyglots).