In asphaleia care, we have several services that support looked after young people. This blog post shares recent events from our supported accommodation services in Sussex.
engagement activities
In our reception services, our young people have been getting together from two different properties and socialising by going bowling and doing other activities.
Young people have been joining in with film nights, making Christmas cards, playing games, and cooking. Staff have enjoyed young people making and sharing food from their cultures.
Towards the end of last year, several of our properties had visits from PCSO's to support the young people with staying safe and understanding how to report concerns to the police.
In our Brighton services, young people have been encouraged to engage in sport and leisure and three of the young people attend a gym and wrestling club together.
A young person has signed up for the Multiply programme that asphaleia training offers. It is a money management programme that gives individualised learning and support to care leavers.
As part of learning to live independently, young people are encouraged to manage the cleaning of the property alongside staff. In one property, new supplies were provided by staff to help young people with cleaning and a rota was introduced. Young people agreed to include cleaning the fridge and the shower in the tasks and planned group cleaning as well as individual cleaning.
keywork
Staff engage each young person in our supported accommodation services in weekly keywork. This involves covering specific topics related to independent living, being healthy and safe, work and education, and anything else relevant to the young person at that specific time. Staff work through the Housemate and Flatmate programmes, developed by asphaleia, to provide the knowledge required for young people to live in a shared property, and also to live semi-independently and successfully manage a property themselves.
In recent months, staff have covered loads of topics with young people, including; fire safety, finances, how to save, what debts and loans are, completing a universal credit application, learning about other religions, looking out for others and showing acceptance and tolerance, beach signs and safety, renting a flat, looking for work, and using a laptop.
care leavers week 2024
The theme of Care Leavers Week was 'All of us, we are one', celebrating the community of care experienced people. Young people in our Worthing reception services joined together for a bowling activity. There were lots of smiles and a good sense of fun as they competed for the top score!
Staff in one of our properties led a house meeting where young people were given the opportunity to share their experiences of living in care.
Christmas plans
Some young people do not wish to celebrate Christmas, but others chose to put up a tree and some decorations and were looking forward to their first Christmas in the UK. Other young people travelled to be with family in other parts of the UK.
In our Brighton service, staff took a few young people down to the seafront to see the annual Christmas Day swim! Unbeknownst to the young people, a staff member had planned to go in too! One young person commented that it was a Christmas they would never forget!
