The Training and Education Centre

The Training and Education Centre will be located in Shoreditch High Street, East London, in an area with all of the usual inner-city social problems, including high unemployment, high crime and poor housing. This project will help people to build up their self-confidence, learn useful and practical life skills, become involved in voluntary work, go on training courses and gain employment opportunities.

Activities
The Training and Education Centre (TEC) will provide hands-on, practical training to people recovering from homelessness, addiction, mental health problems, learning difficulties, and long-term unemployment. The following courses will be offered; painting, decorating, wallpapering, tiling, carpentry, furniture repairs and restoration, electrical appliances, plumbing, DIY, arts and crafts, gardening, and cookery.

Aims
The aims of TEC are as follows:

1. Training
2. Individual growth/development
3. Increased recovery from addiction and homelessness issues

At the TEC the students will learn new skills, access statutory education courses, develop a sense of purpose and belonging, bring structure to their days, move onto voluntary or paid employment, experience an increase in self-esteem and confidence. Client recovery will therefore be more effective as each student has a practical level of engagement. Students will be included in something worthwhile and drawn inwards from the edges of society.

It is our experience that without meaningful occupation, rehabilitation and change can be limited or sometimes unachievable for this client group. In addition to this our pilot programme has been met with much success with items made and restored in the workshop including door plaques, bookshelves, coffee tables, CD racks, bird tables and bedside cabinets.

This project should be open in June 2007 and will be the new home of the Hanbury Community Project.

Please contact Caroline Clark on 0207 613 5677 or at caroline.clark@sct.org.uk for more information.