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Developing Skills |
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 Space to learn
An effective space for learning needs to be set apart from living and leisure. These are spaces where young people can focus on laying the foundations for their future. Whether they are working one-to-one with one of the Centrepoint team, in a group of young people with a trainer, or exploring opportunities for work or study in their own time, the room available to them should reinforce the fact that this work is central to a future which is worth their effort, not incidental to their everyday lives.
Some of the Centrepoint buildings already provide a designated learning space. However, more are needed and those which exist need to be upgraded and equipped to enable the Foundations for Life team to deliver the programmes of learning which we call ‘Life-Wise’ and ‘Work-Wise’ and to support each young person’s programme of development.
We have devised a programme of upgrades to services owned and run by Centrepoint. In some cases we hope to extend the existing building or to provide a temporary building in an area of space which is currently under-utilised. In others we will improve the existing layout and facilities. In all Centrepoint’s services, we will invest in improving learning environments and equipment to promote young people’s engagement with structured, well-thought out programmes of activity. This will build their confidence and help them to develop a vision for themselves as effective participants in society and in the world of work.
The programme of work includes building and improving services in locations across the country. This work includes:
Build new or reorganise existing space
Lower ceilings
Additional cabling and electrics
Appropriate lighting for PC use
Ventilation/air conditioning
Sound proofing
Flooring
Decorations
IT connectivity
IT equipment
Teaching tools (wallboards, projection equipment)
Fitting out (shelving, pinboards, blinds)
Furnishing
Working with existing buildings places constraints upon the provision we can make. We have constructed a programme which provides a national network of:
- Learning hubs, where young people can pursue a variety of training experiences and qualifications, including intensive computer and kitchen-based courses, as well as group and one-to-one work.
- Local learning spaces where training modules are delivered to groups of young people and where there is space and equipment to hold one-to-one discussions and to support individual young people in their search for suitable work or courses of education.
- Spaces and equipment in houses without dedicated learning space where learning and development workers can work on a one-to-one basis or young people can pursue activities in their own time.
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