Lifeskills Centre

To introduce valuable life skills to youth and adults, enabling them to achieve their highest potential as employees and citizens though training and education.

For those who are homeless/ disadvantaged/ excluded… rising numbers of "centre users" are in their teens and early 20's or ex-servicemen and non-english speaking immigrants. We can help them into a fuller life rather than leaving them to become ingrained into life on the streets.

Experience has shown us that there are some homeless people who live a recurring pattern of street sleeping, hostel living and then into a flat, only to start the circle again six months later. Many of these individuals simply do not have the skill set to sustain a tenancy. We hope to break this recurring pattern by introducing the basic life skills required to keep people in a tenancy.

The Lifeskills Centre exists to empower, inform and enable homeless and other vulnerable people. The Centre delivers learning in an accessible and safe environment, in order to provide people with the resources to make real choices about their lives. The Centre is led by the needs of learners, and aims to respond to the aspirations and desires of the Centre users. The Centre does this by providing learning in the broadest sense, promoting supportive relationships, emotional literacy, basic skills and lifeskills.

'Life skills' are something most people take for granted. They are the skills we use every day - paying a bill, catching the bus, having a chat, doing the washing and cooking a meal. All of us have some skills that we are very good at, and some which we find more challenging. However, most people have enough skills to manage day-to-day living.

Sometimes - for many different reasons - people do not pick up these skills, or lose them. This could be because of physical or mental ill-health, addictions, or because they lose confidence in themselves and their abilities. Lifeskills are not just about knowing how to turn on the cooker or fill in a form - they are about having enough self respect to look after yourself and respect others around you.

Aim of the Lifeskills Unit

To support, encourage and assist homeless and social exclusion people, regardless of background, to improve their life changes, by equipping them with skills sustain tenancies, employment and integration into the wider community.

Objectives

• Devise and deliver a programme of cooking sessions, basic computer skills over the year, based on identified needs
• To provide resources and advice on accessing training, education and employment opportunities

Equal Opportunities

Whitechapel values diversity and as such recognises that clients come from a diverse range of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. The staff will ensure that the client's needs and wants are responded to in a pro active way whilst ensuring equal access to services and support that reflects their diverse needs.

Support provided by the Lifeskills Unit

The Lifeskills unit will offer a full range of services at their disposal i.e. within the Whitechapel Mission, their locality and the local authority and other support agencies as appropriate. Areas of support offered to tenants are:

• Enabling them to develop their ability to live independently and sustain their tenancy
• Develop and maintain client's involvement initiatives within the Mission and the local community
• Budgeting skills
• Leisure and social activities
• Daily practical living
• Practical and emotional support
• Meaningful occupation in managing and sustaining a tenancy
• Assist the client in developing and maintaining family and social networks