Independent Living Support

ILS is a charity that was set up to provide Housing Support for people living in Dumfriesshire. The aim of the service is to try to alleviate and prevent homelessness in our local area and to give people the skills they will need to manage their own tenancies within their own communities. Sometimes, when you are having problems or when things go wrong, you need a helping hand from people who understand and who have the right skills and contacts.

Whether you are moving to a new home or just not coping well in your current accommodation, ILS may be able to offer you help and guidance.

Our services are free and available to council tenants, housing association tenants, home owners and people who are privately renting within Dumfriesshire with a particular emphasis on those who are vulnerable. Anti- discriminatory practice is a key component of providing a good service. Otherwise Service Users needs are not being met. To do this we will:

Respect individuality and welcome this.
Make an effort to bring about change regarding attitudes.
Avoid stereotyping and labelling.
Challenge, in positive ways, discrimination in others

Through support, we hope to help more people to sustain their tenancies thus reducing repeat homelessness. ILS is registered with, regulated, and inspected by the Care Commission and the Inspection Reports are available for you to read on the Care Commission website. All staff work to the Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice and the National Care Standards.

One of the biggest concerns our Service Users have is about the energy costs, energy bills, energy suppliers and the energy efficiency of their homes. We have grown to meet these concerns and now have a separate project within ILS called the Empowering People Project, this is set up to answer these and other energy concerns. This has now grown to include Keeping Warm, a service which aims to tackle fuel poverty specifically for the elderly, vulnerable and isolated within our region. ILS also offers a Personal Growth Project called 'It's All About You!' The aim of the project is to try to give people transferable knowledge and skills – and the confidence and reassurance to use these skills - that they can use to move on in their lives. This is done in three key areas; Core Skills, Life Skills and Employment Skills. Through this support, we hope to help more people to achieve their life goals and gain education, employment and volunteering opportunities and sustain these for themselves.

Our Objective

To provide effective tenancy support to people affected by homelessness, and housing crises, in a way that promotes self worth, confidence, independence and empowerment.
To provide effective support to all people who would like to enhance existing knowledge and skills and learn new ones, all of which are transferable throughout their lives, and which promote self worth, confidence, independence and empowerment.
To support people to begin to deal with trauma in their lives and remove barriers.
To reduce offending.
To promote greater understanding of the issues around homelessness and housing crises.
To reduce and alleviate fuel poverty in Dumfries & Galloway.
To provide information to Service Users on community organisations and partner agencies, which may be suitable for their needs and signpost or refer them into these agencies.
To work alongside Service Users to assist them to identify the best available housing options and to access those options.
To provide simple, accessible, relevant support and advice to everyone.
To work alongside partner agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for all Service Users.
To promote personal growth and life skills for each and every Service User and to deliver this in ways that are acceptable to them.
To promote and develop ILS throughout Dumfriesshire.