Further information for support workers

Application guide for support workers. All your questions answered.

What is a support worker?

The support worker can be any person who is working with the applicant on a regular basis to improve their education, employability or living situation. The Support Worker should be working for a recognised organisation that is working towards improving the lives of our client group.

What does the support worker need to do?

We ask that the support worker is supporting the client on a regular basis and that this relationship has been ongoing for around six months. There are three main reasons for asking for this:

• Provide a reference - we ask support staff to write a reference for Changing Lives Award applicants. This need to be at least one side of A4, detailing all the information requested on the back page of the application form.
• Administer award money - if a Changing Lives Award application is successful, all Changing Lives Award money will be sent to the support worker's organisation. Under no circumstances is it given to the award winner. The organisation is responsible for returning all receipts to Crisis within one year.
• Provide pastoral support- many Changing Lives Award applicants have little or no personal support network in place. Support workers help to provide invaluable support and advice before, during and after the Changing Lives Award application process. We expect workers to help applicants with the Changing Lives Award application form.

Contact us

If you would like us to send you posters or have any further questions about a Support Worker's role please call the Changing Lives Team on 0844 251 0111, or via email at changing.lives@crisis.org.uk