Under this groundbreaking initiative LandAid is funding a network of new and improved learning facilities at established Centrepoint sites where an expanded programme of support is being delivered by a dedicated specialist staff team.  Support focuses on five key areas of housing, learning and work, finance, health, and engagement with the community.

The majority of young people helped are not in education, employment or training at the beginning.  Nearly half have slept rough, at least 15% have numeracy and literacy issues and over a quarter have not achieved any qualifications.  Foundations for Life is giving them a much better chance of achieving an independent, sustainable and self-financing life through training in general life and basic education skills, as well as support in finding entry into work or educational / vocational training.  

Over the last year LandAid has committed more than £1million to the first phase of five London based projects at Bruce House, Camberwell Foyer, Berwick Street, Greek Street and Haberdashers House.  Further projects are planned including schemes in Birmingham and the North East, building on the promising start already made and learning from this initial experience.

The Foundations for Life Centres

Bruce House
Berwick Street
Greek Street
Camberwell Foyer
Haberdashers


Bruce House

"You have restored my confidence and made me believe in what I can achieve. You got me on to the construction skills training course at MACE and now I am very excited. You are always willing to help me. You never said tomorrow, tomorrow. No-one has ever done this for me before." Young person Bruce House

Bruce House Foyer provides housing and support for up to 24 months to 49 homeless young people who are committed to securing education, training or employment.  Accommodation comprises a mix of self-contained studios and shared flats.  The accommodation is provided on a self-catering basis and there are no communal catering facilities.

One of the major issues faced here was the lack of any communal space to deliver learning support.  There was one small learning office but that was inadequate in terms of meeting all 49 young people’s needs.  There was no facility for any group work and young people had no access to IT or any healthy living facility.  There was a limited sense of community with little opportunity to meet other young people.

With funding from Land Aid, Centrepoint were able to fully address these shortcomings and Bruce House Foundations for Life Hub now provides learning and health support to all 114 Centrepoint young people living across their Westminster services.

Three separate learning and life skills development zones were created by building a new rear extension onto the building to create a large and flexible space suitable for a range of structured group work and recreational activities.  This room is now fully equipped with IT for use by all young people.  A first floor learning zone was created too, also IT equipped to provide a quiet space for use by young people wishing to study and job search or for smaller group work sessions.

Finally a healthy living centre was created with a fully equipped kitchen where groups of young people can learn and develop skills needed to live independently.  Healthy living groups take place on a regular basis at which young people learn to budget, shop and prepare nutritionally balanced meals. Dining facilities within the centre allow groups of young people to enjoy these meals with each other.

Land Aid has also funded a team of 8.5 specialist workers who deliver the full learning and health support programme.  There is a varied and full programme of learning activities that take place each day and ensure that every young person’s needs can be met in a way that is most appropriate and helpful to them.


Berwick Street

Using the computers at Berwick Street

The Berwick Street service currently provides 27 bed spaces in a mix of shared and single rooms.  Young people stay for up to 28 nights during which time Centrepoint provides an initial assessment and regular 1:1 support and development sessions to prepare and equip the young people to move on to longer term housing with or without support as appropriate to their individual needs.

Before Centrepoint secured Land Aid support there was no space at this service to offer any learning and health support, there was no access or IT nor to any facility to undertake structured group work.

This has all now changed and during 2008 an onsite learning zone was created and equipped to complement the more comprehensive learning services available at Bruce House hub.  Staff from the hub visit the service on a regular basis and provide learning activities such as IT skills workshops, lifeskills sessions and 1:1 support sessions.

Greek Street

Greek Street works with young people aged 16-25.  The service offers 9 bed spaces of short stay emergency provision for rough sleepers and up to 6 month stays in the remaining 17 bed spaces.

I came to Greek Street on the 19th January 2009.  Since I have been here the learning workers have helped me so much on how to get a job and how to join a course in college.  They’ve been like mentors to me and the learning area that they provide is up to a good standard.  The computers are working perfectly and the learning room is always kept tidy and most of all I find the learning workers helpful as they always encourage me to do something rather than sit down and do nothing. Mohamed Saccoh Greek Street

Although there was a dedicated Learning resource room located in the basement it was poorly configured and inadequately ventilated with limited airflow and poor levels of light.  The room offered only the most basic of equipment and only minimal access to IT and due to the problems above was not a comfortable place to work or learn in and as such it was underused.

With Foundations for Life funding Centrepoint was able to address all of these issues and create a new healthy living centre too.

Regular sessions held have been extremely well attended and the Foundations for Life centre is busy and popular.

Jerome is studying Science at Croydon College part-time.  Jerome has been finding it hard to attend as it is far from where he lives.  Centrepoint have tried to find a college near the hostel but unfortunately no college offers an appropriate alternative.  Jerome is grateful for the new IT computers that have been installed in the learning room.  This has helped him to do further research into his course and help complete his course work.  Having the new computers at Greek Street has meant that he does not need to stay late at college to complete his work.

 

Young people using the Foundations for Life Centre  at Greek Street

Since Omar has moved in, he has made full use of the learning room and learning activities that are available.  Currently Omar is completing his FA Level 1 coaching badge through Prince’s Trust to which the Learning Worker referred Omar.  Once Omar has completed his Level 1 he hopes to start Level 2.  As Omar has nearly completed his Level 1, he is currently coaching and refereeing football matches in the local community.  Omar has also been making full use of the new computers that have been installed in the learning room. He has been able to research into more about coaching in general.   After completing all the levels, Omar hopes to get paid employment and progress on with his life.

 

 

 

Camberwell Foyer

The training kitchen at Camberwell Foyer

Camberwell Foyer is an 80-bed foyer based in Camberwell, South East London.  It was the first purpose built foyer in the UK.  The Learning facilities have been totally redesigned and vastly improved through the Foundations for Life programme which has transformed tired spaces into a fantastic new Learning Hub.

LandAid funded £170,000 worth of works completed in September 2008 and with this Centrepoint were able to create:

• a learning resource room, equipped with 5 workstations and printing facilities, where young people will have access to IT and support to identify education, training and work opportunities;
• a Healthy Living Centre, fully equipped with teaching kitchen and dining facilities for group and 1:1 cooking skills sessions and for use as a flexible space for health living group work;
• a private interview room for 1:1 meetings with young people;
• a learning zone equipped with 9 workstations where young people will be supported to achieve ECDL and tailored support;
• a multi purpose room equipped for delivering a range of training sessions, therapies and activities for both staff based at the Hub, and visiting agencies;
• an additional staff room;
• new floors, ceilings, lighting, window dressings and decoration throughout;
• better CCTV in the new Learning areas.

Haberdashers House

Learning to cook

Haberdashers House in Lewisham is home to 7 young people for up to two years.  The service has on site staffing during office hours.

Before Centrepoint developed the Foundations for Life centre there was no access for young people to learning opportunities.  Now there is access to IT and support with learning as well as delivering healthy living workshops designed to help young people eat well on a limited budget.

There is also a 1:1 study area so that young people can benefit from tailor made learning to meet their individual needs.  A Healthy Living worker and a Learning Worker both funded through Foundations for Life provide sessions at times to suit the young people.

Young people have benefited from these sessions by advice on healthier eating, practical cooking and budgeting sessions, referrals onto social and fitness opportunities such as dancing and sport.  Young people have cited that their confidence has increased as a result of receiving this additional support.