Progression coaching

Involving people who have experienced homelessness in delivering services and advocating for change benefits everyone. Homelessness services and the people they help gain from the experience and input of people who have been there. At Groundswell in Lambeth, all the volunteers and 70% of staff have experienced homelessness. By taking an active role, people feel useful, and regain confidence by recognising themselves as not just as someone who needs to be helped but who is capable of doing things and helping others too.

Formerly-homeless volunteer Peer Advocates support people who are currently homeless to attend medical appointments, address physical and mental health problems and engage with health services. Meanwhile, Peer Researchers and Peer Journalists explore the issues directly affecting homeless people to give a voice to those people ‘on the ground’, creating insight that is then used by service providers and policy makers to inform improvements to homelessness services.

The progression programme offers targeted support to enable these staff and volunteers to move forward with their own lives while helping to deliver the charity’s services to others. They receive one-to-one coaching to help them address any ongoing problems they may be facing, and can access a wide range of support and opportunities. In this way, as well as offering valuable support to others, they can at the same time improve their own confidence and abilities, making progress in their own lives too as they continue to move away from homelessness.