We’re so proud to celebrate the first cohort of 12 adult learners who completed our 15-week skills programme.
Steps to Progress helps people who have experienced homelessness, poor mental health, addiction or trauma to gain the confidence and tools to move forward with their lives.
We would like to extend a thanks to our funders, local Shared Prosperity Funds from the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda, for making all this possible to deliver the programme.
We kicked the event off with a panel of six mentors and students speaking about their experience with the programme.
Students said it had given them more confidence in themselves, helped them see their potential, as well as supported them in building solid relationships.
Following the panel, graduates were presented with certificates of achievement by The Wallich’s Interim CEO, Sian Aldridge.
We also heard some words of inspiration from the manager of the programme, Joanne Espoti.
The event was wrapped up with a buffet lunch for everyone to enjoy and bask in the incredible achievement.
Our regional Steps to Progress Mentors guide participants through the course and support them with anything they need to get to the end.
As many of the people who do the course have been out of education or employment for some time, it’s especially important that the students are empowered and supported every step of the way.
Mentors of students were extremely proud at the progress participants had made along the programme. One mentor said:
“The graduation from the Steps to Progress programme was a huge success.
To see so many individuals in attendance, praising the efforts of the clients was extremely powerful.
“To see how proud each client was in receiving their completion certificates was extremely emotional.
I would personally like to thank all the clients who attended, completed the Steps to Progress programme and the efforts of The Wallich staff who put on such a wonderfully organised event.
It was an amazing day and one in which we collectively felt a huge sense of pride for the clients and being a part of The Wallich.”
Our Steps to Progress programme ran in three areas for the first time; Carmarthenshire, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Our graduates were the first cohort of students to complete the 15-week programme.
The project aims to build confidence, resilience and skills to support their progress towards education, training or employment.
At The Wallich, we aim to create sustainable routes out of homelessness and, for some, boosting those particular life skills can be the key to increasing someone’s quality of life and hope for the future.
Since the huge success of the programme, we’re excited to say that Steps to Progress has been expanded to a further two locations; Cardiff and Newport.
Steps to Progress is currently available to The Wallich service users as well as people outside of The Wallich who have been homeless or who are at risk of homelessness.
We’re looking forward to seeing the ongoing journey of our students as well as the progression of the new cohort.
