A new smartphone app has been launched to help young people set up their first home and avoid pitfalls like falling prey to loan sharks.
The free Going it Alone app can be instantly accessed once it is downloaded onto a mobile phone or tablet device.
It has been designed by young people for young people, and includes vital information about living independently.
The high tech project has been masterminded jointly by three housing associations Cartrefi Conwy, North Wales Housing and Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, in collaboration wit partner agency Bus Stop and Conwy County’s Youth Homelessness Officer.
Phil Jones, Cartrefi Conwy’s Community Development Manager, was at the launch which was held at the Superbowl, in Llandudno, for 13 to 25-year-olds.
He said: “Cutting edge technology is how young people often communicate and contact one another and we are aware that they won’t always pick up a leaflet and read it.
“Going It Alone has some very important information and advice to share with young people making the big decision to live independently and it also signposts them to a network of supporting organisations where they can seek advice and useful information.
“This is hopefully going to help a lot of young people steer clear of some dangerous financial pitfalls including the dangers of dealing with loan sharks.
“With all this in mind, we collectively came up with the idea of delivering the information as an app which we felt young people were much more likely to be interested in and use effectively. It is also readily available to them because they are always going to have their phone with them.”
Alice Kenning, 18, from Llandudno, was at the app launch and was impressed. She said: “I am always on my phone or the internet and so are most of my friends so I think the app is a really interesting and good way to get young people to read the information.”
Her thoughts were echoed by Dave Hobson, 18, also from Llandudno, who is considering setting up home on his own in the near future and downloaded the app while he was at the launch.
He said: “It feels like a big step going out there on your own and so this information is really useful and the way it has been designed means it is always there for you to refer back to. It is accessible and easy to use.
“The trouble with a leaflet is that, if I am honest, most young people probably won’t read it and will end up just throwing it away so I think this is a much better way of communicating with young people.”
App stands for application and is the term given to different software programmes which sometimes come ready built in to your mobile phone or tablet or can be downloaded for free or at a price over the internet. There is a huge range on offer varying in complexity and subject matter.
The Going It Alone app, which is free to download, focuses on providing a wide range of information for young people thinking about living independently.
From money budgeting and avoiding loan sharks to benefit entitlement and laws, it offers comprehensive advice to any young person thinking about flying the nest. It also includes a property survey which gives the user a quick point scoring exercise to help when deciding between the different properties on offer to them.
The app itself was designed in conjunction with Tape Community Music and Film Ltd, a not for profit social enterprise based in Old Colwyn.
Mair Edwards, Community Development Manager for Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, said the project had been developed after it was identified there was not enough information on offer to young people about housing.
She said: “We knew through other projects we run that there was something missing for young people around housing information. So we got together with our partners to develop a leaflet and then an app and since then the project has really gone from strength to strength.
“It is about improving the lives of young people living in Conwy and I think it is a good model which we hope to adopt in other areas which Tai Clwyd works in too.”
Amie Cavanagh, Tenant Engagement Coordinator for North Wales Housing, has also helped develop the project.
She said: “It was clear from consultations that we did that there were a lot of myths and misunderstandings for young people around setting up home on their own and we just all felt it was important to get together and try and address this.
“The app is a good way to target and entice young people so we can make sure the information is getting through to the right people who need this information when they are making these tough life decisions.”
Going It Alone will not stop with an app and the next stage of the project is to form a Youth Housing Network.
Phil Jones, of Cartrefi Conwy, explained: “We want to create a network of young people who can come together to shape the issues around housing which affect them and to challenge things which are happening in their areas.
“During the launch we have been gauging interest for this and signing those up who are interested in becoming members of such a network.
“We don’t envisage it will become too formal or set out like a committee but more a bringing together of committed members who will set their own agendas and have an arena where they can bring up issues which really matter to them.”
For more information ring the Tai Clwyd Bus Stop project on either 07733 012993 or 07884 112035.
