Personal Development

By offering a range of learning opportunities and training workshops, our community programmes and courses have enabled people to gain the skills to reshape their future and find employment.

The Personal Development Workers at Bridge View are here to help individuals improve skills and build confidence. This is achieved through activities such as arts and crafts sessions, confidence building workshops and trips to places of interest; outings include a visit to The Tate Modern, a beach walk to Southwold, a trip to Banham Zoo and fishing in Lowestoft.

As an example of our personal development methods, since July 2011, cookery workshops have been offered using the centre’s training kitchen. The sessions allow individuals to learn either by themselves or together as a group in a relaxed, supportive setting. By helping learners to develop cookery skills and knowledge through simple, affordable recipes, we aim to inspire them to get in their kitchens at home and cook a meal for themselves and their families. As part of the sessions, basic food hygiene, budgeting and nutrition are covered ensuring that knowledge and skills gained will enable learners to become confident in the kitchen.

For those who show a real talent and/or potential we have job, apprentice and volunteering opportunities within Access Community Trust’s Coffee House called Sams.

For more information on any of our services contact us directly on 01502 513974, or call our Head Office on 01502 527200

Services

Benefit advice:
This includes making claims, advance payment requests, queries, support with accessing universal credit journals and mandatory reconsideration requests.

Housing advice:
This includes completing DHP paperwork, SCS referrals, contacting landlords to source accommodation,
setting up household utilities, requesting furniture through charities and local organisations.

Form Filling:
Support can be offered to support individuals when needing to complete forms including benefit claim forms,
doctor’s registration forms and referral forms including mental health self-referral forms.

Day trips:
These will be advertised within Bridgeview. These have previously included trips to London, The Sea life Centre, Museums and Boat trips

Courses:
Support can be provided to source training opportunities including Food Hygiene and First Aid.

Food vouchers:
This service can be provided within specified times (please see below). Please note that for all food voucher requests, service users must bring a bank
statement/print out dated for that day. This is to clarify for the food bank purposes that they are in some form of crisis due to lack of funds.

Personal Development Sessions:
Cookery masterclass sessions can be provided on Monday and Wednesday afternoons within the community café kitchen.
All sessions need to be booked in advance through staff in Bridgeview.

Activities:
These will be advertised in Bridgeview on an activities poster. Activities that have proved popular are arts and crafts, darts and bingo.

Community Cafe:
Breakfast is available Monday – Saturday from opening time to 11:30 and Lunch is available Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 12pm – 2pm.

Job Search facilities:
Computers are available for job searches, job applications and to access Universal Credit journals.

Shower and Laundry Homeless facilities:
These can only be used for homeless services users, toiletries can be provided where necessary.

Kirkley Mill Access Health Centre:
This is a service where appointments can be booked to see a nurse for minor injuries or concerns.
This is every Wednesday but the appointments must be booked in advance.