Oxford residents invited to brush up skills at homeless hostel workshop » Housing » 24dash.com

A project that helps homeless people in Oxford to get their lives back on track is being opened up to the wider community.

Homeless people staying at Simon House, a 52-bed hostel in Paradise Street, have been taking part in nationally recognised painting and decorating courses. Plans are currently under way for the residents to form their own social enterprise business.

A2Dominion Group, which runs the hostel, also manages more than 2,000 homes in the Oxford area and is now giving its tenants the chance to take part in a painting and decorating course at the hostel’s training workshop.

The next course is starting on June 22. Tenants need to be referred by their housing officer before being able to participate.

The aim of expanding the project is to help A2Dominion tenants gain skills to help them to return to work.

Pam Vasir, A2Dominion’s Director of Care and Support, said: “Our painting and decorating courses at Simon House have been a massive success, providing those who have taken part not only valuable practical skills, but also confidence to move forward.

“We are delighted to now be reaching out to more of our residents living in the Oxford area.”

The courses, which each last about 13 weeks, are accredited by the National Open College Network (NOCN).  To be eligible, residents must be living in A2Dominion general needs or supported housing accommodation. Others wishing to take part would be required to provide funding.

Learners start at Level 1 and work towards achieving a Certificate in Painting and Decorating. They can then progress to Diploma level. So far 16 people from Simon House have gained the Level 1 Certificate, and eight have gone on to undertake the Diploma course.

Staff at Simon House are currently looking to register a social enterprise called Qidec as a recognised company. The aim is for learners who have reached Diploma level to be employed by the Qidec, and its skilled workforce to go out to compete in the market for painting and decorating contracts.