The Justlife Centre in Openshaw, Manchester

Our Health & Enterprise Centre in Manchester provides drop-in support and activities to residents of unsupported temporary accommodation. Through advice and guidance surgeries, residents have an opportunity to sit down with a support worker, and work through areas they need help with, such as understanding their housing options, benefits, and much more.

We run drop-ins at our centre or at Brunswick Parish Church, where residents can relax, enjoy a healthy hot meal, and engage in a variety of fun activities, or make an appointment with our team for advice. Those looking to learn a new skill can join us at the centre to get involved with gardening, cooking, and art.

Individuals in need of ongoing one-to-one support are assigned two main key workers who’ll work with them to identify the areas that need attention, and come up with an action plan to address these areas. This could involve GP registrations, accompanying them to health or benefit-related appointments, and referring them on to other specialist services.

We also work to seek out and secure new housing options for residents, and help them with their applications. Once a new home has been secured, we help them move in and access funding for furniture and essential appliances, continuing to support them as they settle in.

Everything we do is centred around giving residents of unsupported temporary accommodation the best possible chance of moving away from homelessness. Our work falls into four main areas: health and wellbeing, housing, connection and voice. This involves helping residents pay attention to their medical needs, source stable housing, connect with relevant professional services, and encouraging them to speak up about - and challenge - their current living situation. Through addressing these areas, we aim to facilitate their transition into a stable home.

Using the principles of a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) as a guide, we actively try to take into account the personalities, emotions, and past experiences of those we support. This approach helps ensure that people with multiple and complex needs are given the care they need, and that our specialist support workers are equipped to work with, and form positive relationships with them.

We also promote their overall wellbeing and mental health by working towards the five ways to wellbeing. We do this through helping them connect with their community to reduce isolation, stay active through various centre-based activities, take notice of the support services around them, keep learning through skills-based activities, and give by encouraging positive, community-based actions.