Renaissance

Renaissance is a specialist employment project designed to support people with severe and enduring mental health problems into employment or a meaningful occupation.  It prepares people for work by running skills and confidence building groups and a job club.  It also, helps people overcome barriers to employment such as employer attitudes and difficulties moving from benefits into work.

The Project enables people to retain their jobs by offering telephone and 1:1 support to both clients and employers.  It is also recognised by Jobcentre Plus as an agency to supervise those on benefits who wish to carry out Permitted Work - A Government scheme for people with long-term health problems introduced as a stepping stone from benefits into employment.  Renaissance has this year supported 27 people into paid employments posts.  It has helped 15 people find suitable voluntary work.  It has received a record number of referrals and has forged links with more organisations to expand its timetable.

The Project has changed its way of working in Mid Bedfordshire by closing down the sheltered work scheme to carry out a more pro-active role with clients living in rural areas.  The Renaissance Café Project, jointly run with Bedford's Day Resource Centre, has thrived despite funding issues and future plans involve employing more service users, working within the permitted work rules.

This year's focus to promote social inclusion has not only included signposting clients to access wider mainstream services.  It has involved partnering non-mental health organisations to deliver group work and advice sessions at the Project's base in Woburn Road in Bedford. The Project has encouraged people with mental health problems to run their own activities within the Centre and to develop a quarterly newsletter which keeps people informed of activities within local mental health services.

©2008 | Content Management by Refresh | Privacy Statement | Terms and Conditions | Site Map