The British Heart Foundation run a number of shops across Kent and Medway which provide volunteering opportunities for those looking to work towards getting back into employment.

• Volunteer work placements
• Wide range of ages – work closely with agencies such as the Shaw Trust
• Range of tasks, from shop display and retail to lifting boxes, cleaning items, ironing or steaming
• Solitary (backroom) or social (retail) available

297 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4BN, to see the location on a google map click here.
Telephone: 01634 817330

Catch 22 supports care leavers with the transition from the care system to adulthood and independent living, including accessing suitable and secure accommodation. Kent 16+ operates a supported lodging scheme for young people whereby they can live within a family-type environment whilst acquiring the independent living skills and emotional resilience necessary to enable them to live independently. The carers within this scheme are approved and receive comprehensive training and on-going support and supervision from the dedicated supported accommodation officers within the service.

Catch 22 services is committed to ensuring young people have the best possible chance to succeed in life, with support including:

• a dedicated worker to help each young person achieve the things that are important them
• a plan to keep track of the important things (a Pathway Plan)
• assistance in accessing and sustaining college and university
• help with gaining employability skills
• help with finances
• volunteering opportunities
• help in having their opinions heard
• referring to other specialist teams or workers
• accessing their care files.

Catch 22 services are all over and Kent and Medway to search for your local service click here.

To go to their website follow the link: www.catch-22.org.uk

CXK delivers a range of services across Kent to support young people and families to maximise their potential. In particular by providing them with advice, guidance, skills and the confidence that will help them to progress into education, employment and training. Services include:

• careers guidance, advice and work related learning for vulnerable young people and adults (including the National Careers Service);
• mental health & wellbeing services (Young Healthy Minds);
• Leadership & Development programmes for young people including the National Citizen Service and the Prince’s Trust team programme;
• Management of youth centres and a mobile youth service (Community Activity teams);
• Training Programmes for those not in employment, education and training (European Social Fund);
• Accredited training for adults and professionals working with young people
• Parenting programmes and family workshops

Telephone: 01795 439397, email: [email protected]. For their website follow the link: www.cxk.org

Hands Gillingham Volunteer Centre helps people find a volunteering role which matches their skills, experience and circumstances.

Volunteer centres help people find a volunteering role which matches their skills, experience and circumstances. They provide support to existing volunteers and help organisations find volunteers to help them with their activities.

62 Watling Street, Gillingham, Kent ME7 2YN, telephone: 01634 577984

or email: [email protected]

To go to their website follow the link: www.gillinghamvolunteercentre.com

Hands Rochester Volunteer Centre helps people find a volunteering role which matches their skills, experience and circumstances.

5a New Road Avenue, Chatham ME4 6BB. To see the location of this service on a google map click here.

Telephone: 01634 830371 or email: [email protected]

To go to their website follow the link: www.rochestervb.pcihosting.co.uk

Headway want to promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their families and carers.
Headway aim to:

• To increase awareness of brain injury and its consequences
• To provide information and support for people with brain injuries, their relatives and carers and concerned professional people
• To promote improved approaches to brain injury screening, acute care, assessment, rehabilitation and social re-integration
• To assist people with brain injuries to return to community living, including access to appropriate accommodation, social outlets, and productive activity

Helpline 0808 8002244. You can see their website by following the link: www.headway.org.uk

Jobcentre Plus Chatham can help you with all areas of employment, from job seeking, job opportunities and looking for work or making changes to a claim.

• Combined jobsearch and benefits service for people of working age.
• Personal advisers assist with jobsearch activities and benefits claims
• Access to Jobpoint terminals for information on job vacancies
• Part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Jobcentre Plus network

Crown House, The Brook, Chatham, ME4 4LQ, to see the location on a google map click here.

Telephone: 0845 6043719, to go to the website follow the link:

https://www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus

The Live It Well Website has a range of information and advice all designed to support your mental health and wellbeing. Find out about the Six Ways to Wellbeing and what people in Kent are doing to support their wellbeing.

We have information on money and benefits, debt help and advice, mental health services and how to get help in Kent and Medway.

We have a unique database of local support and help that is available in your community.

We have listings for all of the NHS Talking therapy providers in Kent, so if you are struggling find out how you can refer yourself into services here.

• Gives advice and links to other services
• Local focus website, with links to social activities, physical health and things to do in Kent and Medway
• Hosts the Live It Library - mental health recovery stories
• Offers support pages, live online support and local information
• Information on how the community mental health teams work and the mental health system in Kent and Medway
• Supports the Six Ways to Wellbeing and has local suggestions to support these - Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Take Notice, Give, and Planet - Care
• Employment , money and debt advice
• Information about personal budgets and self direct support
• Information on carers groups and service user networks
• Information on PTSD
• Information on Housing help and support

We are always looking to improve our website so if you have any ideas about how we can help let us know. To go to the home page go to www.liveitwell.org.uk or to contact Live It Well email: [email protected]

MACLS (Medway Adult and Community Learning Service) is committed to providing a wide range of learning opportunities for adults in Medway. Whether you want to learn news skills for work, develop your creativity or participate in learning activities with your children, they will have a course for you.

• Courses for adults for work, recreation and leisure
• Literacy and Numeracy help and support
• crafts, arts, education

To go to their website click here Telephone: 01634 338400 or email at: [email protected]

http://www.medway.gov.uk/schoolsandeducation/adultlearning.aspx

Keep Learning is one of the Six Ways to Wellbeing, if you need more ideas about how you can Keep Learning follow the link.

The Medway Healthy Workplaces programme is run by Medway Council’s Public Health team. It is open to all workplaces in Medway, regardless of size and sector. The programme supports workplaces in finding ways to staff to be healthier at work.

Evidence suggests that a workplace with a staff wellbeing programme, benefits from improved staff productivity, reduced sickness absence and improved staff engagement. The support offered can range from Stop Smoking support, Mental Health training, Healthy Eating advice right up to supporting workplaces through the Workplace Wellbeing Charter. Support is tailored to the needs of the individual workplace.

To find out more about how the programme can benefit your workplace, please email [email protected], call 01634 334307 or go to: http://abettermedway.co.uk/aboutus/workplacehealth.aspx

Or contact them at: Medway Healthy Workplaces, Public Health, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR

Royal British Legion Industries provides a work programme designed to:

• CV Building
• Interview Preparation
• Job Searching and Application
• Confidence building

They also provide welfare, healthcare and housing services for veterans and ex armed services personnel and their families
Extensive support including residential nursing, supported accommodation and rehabilitation

Address: RBLI, Hall Rd, Aylesford, Nr. Maidstone, ME20 7NL

Telephone Nos: 01622 795954/795900 or email at: [email protected].

For the website follow the link: www.rbli.co.uk

St Giles Trust aims to help break the cycle of prison, crime and disadvantage and create safer communities by supporting people to change their lives. Their services put reformed ex-offenders at the heart of the solution, training them to use their skills and first-hand experience to help others through peer-led support. Around one-third of our staff are ex-offenders who now support others.

Skills and employment services for ex offenders includes:

• On the job training,
• regular monitoring and supervision,
• professional training in a range of areas,
• a one-to-one session with a specialist in disclosure,
• involvement in our Peer Advisor User Group,
• access to employment opportunities and support to move into paid employment
• Work with prisoners towards rehabilitation and support
• Youth offenders and those at list of offending, support and projects
• Supports prisoners in prison and on release towards work and independence
• Support for children and families of offenders

Telephone: 0207 703 7000 or email: [email protected]

To go to their website follow the link: www.stgilestrust.org.uk

TheSite.org is an online guide to life for 16-25 year olds in the UK. It provides non-judgmental support and information on everything from sex and stress to debt and drugs.

Straight-talking emotional support is available 24 hours a day. There are options for:

• Chatting about anything on moderated discussion boards and live chat rooms
• Browsing over 2000 articles and videos full of trustworthy facts
• Reading about the experiences of other young people in the True Life section
• Asking questions about friends, dating, love or family life to trained advisors – free and confidential

They have information and advice on:

• Sex & Relationships
• Your Body
• Mental Health
• Drink & Drugs
• Housing
• Money
• Work & Study
• Crime & Safety
• Travel & Lifestyle

www.thesite.org

Winfield promotes confidence through training. If you are interested in learning about computers and their uses and gaining I.T. qualifications (or just building your confidence and knowledge), then Winfield can offer you training, advice and support.

Winfield are based in West Kent and Medway.

To go to their web page go to the following link: winfieldcomputing.org.uk

Winfield are part of United Response.