Learn the Skills

Summary of the project

Your world may have fallen apart because of Covid 19 you may be feeling lost and hopeless. This project will help to reconnect you to people in a similar position, to learn the skills that you need to get back to normal and feel like you are living again.

This is not a project that aims specifically to teach employability skills rather our aim is to help people get themselves ready to go back to work. Employability skills training is available if you want and we can help you with job search using our computers.

If you wish to take part in the project you will need to be a resident of Greater Manchester, aged 16 or older and be out of work or have been given notice of redundancy. The initial registration process will help to clarify your eligibility.

The project will be delivered in seven sections that are:

• Creatively building confidence
• Anxiety management
• Keeping well while looking for work
• Keeping up morale and Being resilient
• Self-Help
• Applying online
• 1 to 1 support.

Most sections will be delivered in a group ‘face to face’ format, they will last 90 minutes. Each of these sections will comprise 10 sessions.

The seventh section is a 1 to 1 activity. This section will last 60 minutes and will comprise 4 sessions.

Outline details of ‘Learn the skills’

It is intended that people take part in all seven of the group activities and only those who want or need 1 to 1 support take part in that section. Don’t panic there are no roles plays or anything like that.

All sections are planned to operate in a physical face to face environment although they can be delivered via a remote video system should the Covid 19 restrictions require that.

Overall Aims of each section

Creatively building confidence

• Boost confidence,
• Self-esteem and motivation,

Learn self-improvement techniques and skills to enable and support personal growth and well-being,

Provide people with the ability to self-reflect and better understand themselves and others.

Anxiety management

• Identify different types of anxiety;
• Identify common triggers;
• Find personal solutions to help your recovery;
• See this group and how it compliments other interventions.

Keeping well while looking for work

Provide people with the necessary skills to enable them to keep themselves well. This covers both physical and mental wellness and considers food and mood, what exercise to do and how to get the best out of relaxation

Keeping up morale and Being resilient

Provide participants with the necessary skills to enable them to keep their morale high and have resilient mental health.

We will focus on the five ways to wellbeing;

• Connect with others,
• Be physically active,
• Learn new skills,
• Give to others,
• Pay attention.

Self Help

Our normal self-help groups provide a great place for people to learn and share. It is an extremely effective way for people to discuss their worries and success in a safe, supportive and confidential environment. This is a facilitated open event, subject to Covid 19 rules, that people can attend.

Applying online

We often get people attending our advocacy service who want help to apply for jobs or conduct research around job hunting and they don’t know how to do it. We will provide computers, software, access and support to allow this to happen.

1 to 1 support

Experience suggests that some of the participants will want some extra personal help. This section provides that and you will be able to meet face to face with someone who can help.

What are the benefits?

Improved Confidence

In recent work delivering confidence, motivation and self-esteem events 86% of people who took part showed statistically significant improvements in their confidence. You will better be able to cope with day to day life. In general you will be likely to achieve benefits including; improved physical health, improved emotional wellbeing, improved social networks, be able to make a positive contribution, have increased choice and control, increased independence, an improved financial situation, increased knowledge or skills, you will not need statutory services, and be more aware of your rights.

Keeping mentally well

People will participate in elements of keeping up morale, keeping healthy while looking for a job, and learning and sharing from others. We know that this coproduced method of activity helps people to flourish. The activities will enable everyone to become more positive in their outlook, more engaged in their lives, build better more meaningful relationships, understand the meaning in their lives and have goals and ambitions they can accomplish.

Reduced anxiety

Your anxiety will reduce. In other anxiety recovery and management activities we have delivered 50% plus of people who took part have a reduced level of anxiety. Your anxiety symptoms will reduce and you will better be able to cope with day to day life. You will be likely to achieve benefits including; improved physical health, improved emotional wellbeing, improved social networks, be making a positive contribution, increase your choice and control, increase your independence, improved financial situation, increased knowledge or skills, reduced demand on services, and be more aware of your rights

How to sign up If you want to enrol and take part in this project please ring us on 01204 527200, text us on 07800 000 396 or email help@mhist.co.uk. Our colleagues will eb able to help.