Your Own Place in the World

In the last week of February the wind blew me in to The Training Flat in Norwich where an eager group of young people were tucking into pizza, some chatting and laughing, some quiet and shy but all engaged.  This was a 3-day Tenancy and Independent Living Skills Plus (TILS+) training course to help set them up on their feet in the outside world.  The course is one of many invented and run by the social enterprise, Your Own Place, which was set up by Rebecca White in 2013 with the specific aim of preventing homelessness. They also have a network of mentors in the community who they train to support people leaving home or care and people approaching and after release from prison.  The team has suddenly, like every single social enterprise, or other business across the country, had to completely rethink how they operate under lockdown and how to reach all the people who need their support more than ever.  In this podcast we hear from CEO Rebecca, talented trainers, Jarrod and Jess, and past TILS+ trainee, Simon, who is now a member of their Youth Advisory Board... and last, but not least, a roomful of bright and lively young people who have all had many challenges in their lives.

Piano:  Henrietta Faire
'Fantasie und Fuge A-moll' by Johann Sebastian Bach
'Vals Poético' by Enrique Granados

Your Own Place have a fund-raising campaign called #MoreThanEver on  Crowdfunder.  CEO Rebecca White says:  
'We mustn't close as the government scheme requires - because we're needed more than ever.   Many people are isolated, scared, unsupported as well as losing their jobs and at risk of losing their homes too.  People who struggle to trust others need the people they already have trusted relationships with - that's us.  More than ever people are going to need support finding work, keeping on top of bills and keeping their home.  We have to keep going.’ www.yourownplace.org.uk