Evaluation Pre Tenancy Wakefield/Smartmove
29 February 08
Feedback from Participants attending workshops
Workshop 1
Participants felt the drop off rate could be alleviated if the first session could be more of a social icebreaker to allow the group time together at first. It was good to have perceptions of homelessness in the introductory workshop.
Workshop 2 ‘Moving On’
Participants appreciated the advantages of a planned move on. and were now able to take meter readings.
Workshops 3/4 ‘Housing Options/Viewing Offers’
Looked at PTDs. Participants found bidding for properties good and viewing an offer was well presented visually. Participants suggested a ‘field trip’ in the next workshops to look at a void property.
Workshop 5 ‘Welfare Benefits’
One participant said this enabled her to deal with issues around benefits assertively and calmly; another had sorted out her NI number.
Workshop 6 ‘Bills/Utilities’
Participants looked at different utility meters and different ways of paying for TV licences and were now able to take meter readings.
Workshop 7 ‘Budgeting’
Comments included ‘I can budget now’ and ‘This workshop gave me a kick up the backside’. Participants suggested a trip to a supermarket and the use of calculators in the next workshops.
Workshop 8 ‘Making it Work’
Participants thought this session worked well in sorting out issues with neighbours in a reasonable way. They also thought the role play worked well and would like more of these in the next sessions.
Workshop 9 ‘Debts and Arrears’
This was a good session, presented informally, with lots of information around acting at an early stage and getting advice from CAB. One participant felt the session helped in the context of an unhappy past in getting into debt.
Workshop 10 ‘Healthy Eating’
Participants liked the Health Visitor that came to the session and exploring The ‘five a day’ healthy diet. Suggestions that a cooking session would be good next time.
Final Workshop ‘Making it Work’
Participants recalled how they examined the impact different situations could have on their tenancies.
Comments from support Workers
- Participants now asking about getting their TV licences sorted out.
- One participant now looking for budget clothing.
- Private landlords now asking if potential tenants have been on the workshops.
Summary of Proposals for the Next Workshops
- The workshops will be launched in mid April, until the end of May.
- Joanne Ashley from the Step In Project will co-train in anticipation of cascading the sessions in future.
- Participants to come from the Step In Project as well as those in temporary accommodation.
- A void property to be available for viewing an offer
- Information on Local Housing Allowance to be available in the Housing Options workshop.
- Maintain the workshops from 11.00am-13.00pm.
- To be run in alternative town centre premises.
- A cooking session to be arranged for the Healthy Living workshop.
- To explore the option of making a DVD of the workshops.
- First workshop to provide an informal social introduction to the sessions.
- Following interest from participants, they will be invited to assist in the next workshops
Conclusion
All present felt that the workshops had been successful and well received. Participants had taken the opportunity to meet and positively evaluate the sessions in detail. It will be important to focus on maintaining attendance and publicising the broad aims and objectives of the next workshops.
Action Points
- Smartmove to meet with support workers and Step In before next workshops are publicised.
- Wakefield to provide dates/venues for next workshops, mid April to the end of May.
- Jane Floweth/Jill Norman to meet Jo Rawnsley 27/03/08 at 2.30.
- Participants attending evaluation to be kept updated re next workshops.
- Jo Rawnsley to confirm SmartMove’s attendance at CLG on 17/03/08
