A Chatter That Matters: A Conversation About Severe and Multiple Disadvantage

Abstract

Health Opportunities Team (HOT) are a community-based charity committed to improving the health and wellbeing of young people (aged 12-25). HOT received funding by Lankelly Chase to facilitate a conversation about severe and multiple disadvantage. This came following a report by Hard Edges Scotland which highlighted the complexity of the lives of people facing severe and multiple disadvantage in Scotland, and how this impacts public and voluntary services. Severe and multiple disadvantage can be described as any person with two or more of the following issues: homelessness, offending, substance misuse, mental health issues and poverty (Fisher, 2015).
In 2019 HOT facilitated an after-school workshop where young people from the local areas of Craigmillar, Portobello, Liberton and Gilmerton shared their experiences and views on severe and multiple disadvantage, specifically around health and poverty. The aim of this was to explore how young people feel severe and multiple disadvantage impacts upon their lives and families, especially in relation to health and wellbeing, and to explore how organisations like the Health Opportunities Team can develop services that mitigate the impacts of severe and multiple disadvantage.