Training courses

Background

Research published by Crisis in 2006 (Homeless people and learning and skills) found that "Homeless people would be encouraged to take part if the following were provided:

• Financial incentives and help with travel costs
• Tutors who understand homeless people’s needs
• Courses linked to jobs
• Information about courses available"

These are the minimum aspects for consideration in developing work and learning activities.

The research also found that voluntary sector organisations are particularly well-placed to offer training and learning support to homeless people. Voluntary organisations have an important role to play in providing training/educational services for homeless people. They achieve the highest satisfaction ratings from homeless people in terms of satisfying their training/educational needs, as compared to government training schemes. Homeless people think they:

• are aware of the range of needs of homeless people;
• have staff who are supportive and understanding;
• offer learning environments and courses which are more suitable to homeless people’s needs e.g. informal settings and flexible courses.

Case studies

This section will include good practice and examples around delivering short courses and training.

There are currently 4 case studies in this section:

• Learning Links: a short course of life skills and workplace preparation.

• Diving and boating courses: innovative and unusual training courses from Birkenhead YMCA

• Catering and hospitality short course: a course designed to fill a gap in the market, and to give transferable skills to students in the fields of good customer service.

• Short, accredited courses linked to activities a case study from the Booth Centre, Manchester who provide a wide range of accredited short courses through the Open College Network.

Further content and more general good practice guidance will be added soon, if you know of a project whose work could feature here as a case study please email the project coordinator.