Helping to develop life skills

Part of the GM Housing First remit is to support individuals in developing life skills as they navigate their recovery journey.

At Petrus, one of our delivery partners, a broad offer is available to those on the Housing First programme through their Health, Wellbeing and Engagement team.

This offer is built around a volunteering and social prescribing model, that aims to create pathways for people to connect with their local communities, build peer support networks, increase resilience, and improve their overall health and wellbeing. For those ready to take the next step, it also provides routes into training and employment.

Many people who access these opportunities describe them as having given them a renewed sense of purpose and a chance to contribute to their communities.

The offer is centred around activities, such as access to Petrus’ award-winning community garden, PIER, and involvement in projects such as the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show.

Other activities include walking groups, where people can work towards walk leadership qualifications, and the Broadfield Slopes project, which supports people to explore and document the culture and history of a local town centre park, including their own lived experiences of the area.

As a member of GM Citizens, Petrus also provides a platform for people with lived experience to share their stories and work with the wider partnership to drive positive societal and systemic change on the issues that matter most to them.

Many other opportunities are offered, including a wellbeing group, men’s group, and breakfast service, alongside ad hoc activities working with delivery partners, ranging from fishing to drama workshops.

To support and maximise the impact of these opportunities, Petrus runs regular training sessions adapted to individual needs. These sessions focus on removing barriers to access, and focus on each person’s goals and aspirations, connected where appropriate to the activities they enjoy.

Training is delivered through a mix of group and one-to-one sessions, both internally and with external partners. Modules include IT skills, safeguarding, first aid, health and safety, and food hygiene. More bespoke training might cover tool and equipment use, walk leadership, presentation and public speaking skills, CV writing, and interview preparation.

It’s through fantastic initiatives like this that people are able to regain confidence, build relationships, and become more settled within their community.

Together, we are making a difference.