We love training colleagues who are also doing brilliant work with young people in our community. We’ve already trained colleagues from Children’s Services, Supported Housing and the Youth Offending Service. That’s why we’re delighted to have two dates this spring to offer our expertise in all things money management. The two dates for a half-day course are Tuesday 25th April (9.30am – 1pm) and Tuesday 23rd May (1pm – 4.30pm). A half-day costs £50 and will be held in The Training Flat, 23 Johnson Place, Norwich, NR2 2SA. There will be light refreshments and resources to take away. Please use the link to book yourself a place.
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Vanessa – a mentoring case-study
We love great endings, and this is a great ending. After meeting regularly for just over a year, their mentoring relationship is now coming to a close. Vanessa (mentee) had just got her first home after being homeless for a time when we met her in autumn 2015. She was impressively determined and patient about sorting out her flat, recognising that it would take time to get it how she wanted. It has taken a whole year to get the white goods and she has never stopped working towards this. In the longer term she’d love to start her own business, but realises she needs income and experience in the short term. During the mentoring relationship, with help from her mentor, she secured voluntary work at a local hotel and having proved herself, is now moving into paid work. Determination pays off. The relationship will now come to an end, with the mentor still available at the end of the phone. A great outcome for everyone!
2016 round-up
We’ve got lots to celebrate going into 2017, but let’s just take a moment to reflect on a great year. Please click on the link to see our top ten moments of 2016. And thank you for being a part of them. Happy New Year.
Preventing youth homelessness Part 2
For those of you that read our post last week about supporting a young man facing the threat of imminent eviction, we’re delighted to say that this has been prevented – for now. Alex worked tirelessly with him for one week and he also attended our Tenancy & Independent Living Skills (TILS) course at The Training Flat. At his review with his landlord he proudly presented everything he had done with us to put things right and to be regarded as a trusted and reliable tenant going forward. One of things he cited was our ‘Peer Expert’ who was part of the TILS delivery on Wednesday. As a tenant herself she shared powerful messages about her experiences and the importance of taking the initiative to sort things out and to take back control. We’re naturally thrilled that James gets to keep his home. This will be reviewed again in January. However, for all the other ‘James’ that don’t have support in an austerity-hit sector, we fear for their tenancies and futures. Social enterprises like us hold part of the answer and we hope to grow to meet an un-met need for life-changing support.
Measuring impact
Measuring impact is not a chore to be completed for demanding funders (or not only). It’s also vital for several other reasons. 1) We want to know if we are actually making a difference, because this is what gets us out of bed in the morning. 2) We want to know if we’re spending your money wisely and effectively and if we’re not, we want to change things. 3) Because we want to make a difference to young people’s lives. So that’s why you’ll find a one-page impact report part way through our first year of our Employment Support Project by following this link.