SmartSkills
| | “It’s re-awakened the thirst for knowledge and interest in learning that I had as a child. Now, through much encouragement, advice and support, I’m investing in my future with another qualification at college, which I’m so excited about. I’m learning to drive and I get work experience in a salon regularly." |
A new home and new opportunities
Crisis SmartSkills helps those people who have been housed through SmartMove:
- Learn new skills
- Gain new confidence and enthusiasm in order to move on in their lives.
The SmartSkills programme builds on the work of SmartMove, linking private sector housing solutions with opportunities for tenants to develop their life skills and identify where they really want to be in life.
The basic courses are literacy and numeracy - particularly budgeting - and learners can shape the rest of the programme around their own interests. Some of the courses chosen include cooking, healthy living, photography, pottery, jewellery making, gardening, languages and yoga.
Linking homeless people into local communities
SmartSkills links people into their local communities, supporting them to access existing classes and volunteering opportunities in the area. At the end of the programme clients receive an accredited City and Guilds award that recognises the progress they’ve made. Learners are encouraged and helped to continue their learning or get back into work as the programme comes to an end.
Building confidence and raising expectations
| | Through helping people recognise the skills they already have and supporting them to develop new ones, SmartSkills builds confidence and, time and again, results in raised expectations and a new purpose in life. |
“[Starting SmartSkills] was when my attitude changed; before I just couldn’t be bothered to do anything. I went on to do a plumbing course, which I really enjoyed and decided I wanted to take further. I applied to go to the local college. I was accepted onto a full time plumbing course. This was significant turning point in my life because now I am actually getting somewhere."
