College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Forum links up carers helping the homeless

The University has launched a partnership with several organisations to provide people with the necessary skills to work with the homeless.

A new masters level course in Homeless and Inclusion Health – the first of its kind Scotland – is being launched next month.

Partnership project

Representatives from the homeless charities The Cyrenians and Turning Point Scotland are working with University academics on the teaching of the course.

The University is also collaborating with Heriot-Watt University, NHS Scotland and the Edinburgh Access GP Practice on the project.

The course is targeted at those currently working in health, housing, social care and homeless charities, as well as students who can elect to take the programme as an option.

Funded places

The ten-week course will look at the wider context of homelessness – including the impact of migration.

A total of 40 people are enrolled on the part-time course. The University’s School of Health in Social Science, which runs the course, has awarded 23 fully-funded bursaries.

Course leaders say it will give professional development to students and those already working in the sector, which in turn will benefit local communities.

The course will offer both academic insights and practical training in helping to improve the health and wellbeing of people who are homeless. It will also give those already working in the sector the opportunity to meet and share ideas.

Dr Fiona CuthillCourse Director and Lecturer in Nursing Studies

The course is part of the University’s wider work engaging with needs in the community.

It is also part of a new Centre for Homeless and Inclusion Health, which has been set up with the help of the Carnegie UK Trust.

New Centre

The centre brings together people who have experienced homelessness with those working in the NHS, the charity and voluntary sector, local government and academia to jointly develop learning, teaching and research.

The future work of the centre will include co-produced research by academic staff and a wide range of health, social care and third sector colleagues.

Researchers say the Centre will improve the health and wellbeing for the most marginalised in Edinburgh and the wider society.

Related links

Centre for Homeless and Inclusion Health

School of Health in Social Science

Home page and social media image:©Getty Images