Location: South London
Supports: 275 young people in the boroughs of Lewisham, Southwark, Sutton and Greenwich

Provides: New learning zone with IT suite, healthy living centre, three further training rooms

Before
Camberwell Foyer provides long term accommodation for 80 young people. Before FFL funding was available the existing learning rooms were tired, underused and there were no communal kitchen facilities to teach cooking and healthy living. Most of the South London services did not have a learning facility but now they can share with Camberwell.

After
The old facilities were completely redesigned and now Camberwell Foyer has:
• learning resource room, with five workstations, printing facilities
• healthy living centre, with teaching kitchen, dining facilities, space for group work
• private interview room for 1:1 meetings
• learning room with nine workstations
• multi purpose room for training sessions, therapies and activities for staff and outside agencies
• additional staff room
• new floors, ceilings, lighting, decoration throughout
• four specialist FFL staff have been delivering the health and support programme covering areas such as finding a job, healthy living and computer skills.

Now
Since the FFL centre opened at Camberwell in autumn 2008, 250 young people a month on average have been using the services. Young people using the FFL facilities can now, gain a European Computer Driving Licence (a recognised qualification), learn how to use Photoshop, do their university/college work, create a CV and apply for jobs online as well as taking part in the workshops, training and advice given by the FFL staff.

In September 2009 six of Camberwell’s residents gained university places.
“The new FFL centre is so much better than the rooms that were there before and it really makes you believe someone else thinks you are worth investing in. I have completed ten LifeWise workshops and this has helped me learn skills for the future.” Nicola

Location: Central London
Supports: 29 young residents and 115 living in Westminster

Provides: New learning zone with IT suite, healthy living centre, three training rooms

Before
Before Bruce House received funding through FFL for it had no dedicated learning space or room for communal activities. The young people living there had no access to IT or to a healthy living centre.

After
Now Bruce House has a FFL Learning Hub that is being used by 114 young people across the Westminster Area. Three separate rooms have been created by building a rear extension and there is now a fully equipped IT room, a learning room and a healthy living centre with teaching kitchen.

Now
FFL is paying for eight specialist workers to deliver the learning and health support programme.

“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."

Location: Central London
Supports: 27 young residents

Provides: New learning and activities room with IT and other facilities

Before
Berwick Street provides short stay accommodation for young homeless people. Before Berwick Street received an FFL grant there was no space for learning or health support and no IT facilities.

After
Berwick Street now has an FFL learning room with IT facilities.

Now
FFL staff from the Bruce House hub visit on a regular basis and provide learning activities such as IT workshops, life skills sessions and 1:1 support.

Location: Central London
Supports: 26 young residents

Provides: New learning/IT room, healthy living centre and private room

Before
Greek Street had a basement learning room but it was underused as the lighting and ventilation was poor and it only had very basic IT equipment.

After
All these problems have now been addressed; the learning room is now light and comfortable to work in.

Now
The young people have been making full use of the FFL hub and can now use it to do their college work or look for jobs.

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.

Location: South London
Supports: 7 young residents
Provides: New IT facilities, area for healthy living and 1:1 sessions

Before
Before the FFL centre there was no access for young people to learning opportunities.

After