Developing the skills of homeless

A London based-scheme has sought to reintegrate the homeless community into society by providing them with an opportunity to develop their skills. St Mungo’s Charity has a variety of outreach programs, one of them being the Recovery College. Launched in September 2012, the College now offers 50% more courses than when it begun and welcomes over 395 students who are homeless.

The college creates the opportunity for the homeless community to increase their knowledge and awareness, while allowing them to become experts in self-care and moulding the necessary skills. It thus offers essential courses that allow the students to develop self-esteem and confidence, while also providing them with the necessary skills to survive, such as surviving on a tight budget. For many of those sleeping rough this is the first opportunity into education and gaining self-esteem. For others it is a chance to acquire more life skills, such as literacy and musical, which could provide them with the way out of such a difficult life-style. With this approach, St. Mungo’s Charity has successfully begun to break down the barrier between ‘them’, the homeless, and ‘us’, society, creating the means from them to integrate within society again.

The promise made by the Mayor of London that by 2012 there would be no one sleeping rough in London fell through when in 2012 the amount of homeless people increased by at-least 40% since the previous year. In such a dire economic climate with homes and jobs being lost, the role of the charities has become paramount - such to the extent that homeless people now commonly depend on them for their survival. It is in this climate that we find St Mungo’s Charity and its schemes undertaking a pivotal role in helping people who are sleeping rough to improve the quality of their life.

For more information about the Recovery College, visit St Mungo’s Charity website.