Skillnet Group

When Tanya wanted to learn how to catch the bus on her own, the support she received from the Skillnet Group helped her to take a step on a much longer journey.  This significant experience of independence gave her the confidence to try other things that she wanted to do. 

Gradually she became more and more involved in the running of Skillnet’s services and today she is an employee of the company enjoying a fulfilling role providing help and information to other people with learning difficulties.

A Skillnet Group arts production

There are many wonderful stories like Tanya’s that demonstrate the incredibly life changing experiences that people encounter whilst working with the Skillnet Group.  There are education courses, arts projects and campaigning groups to enjoy, all designed to build confidence and community involvement. 

And because of Skillnet’s committed focus on helping people to overcome obstacles and take responsibility, some remarkable new initiatives have been created.  An emerging social firm called Way Out, for example, began performing on open mic nights with Skillnet and now enjoys success as a cover band.

So how does this happen?

One of the keys to success lies in the fact that the Skillnet Group has a business model with a difference.  Their robust plans focus on the core strength and development of the business whilst the actual detail of the projects is deliberately left open to evolve naturally, led by the people who benefit from them the most.

This reflects how well embedded their core social enterprise values are, demonstrating a true grassroots ethos, safeguarding the mission and ensuring that everyone is empowered to take shared responsibility for how they will grow together. 

And yet Skillnet goes much further than this.  Because they understand the damaging effects of isolation, they actively work to create partnerships with other organisations and communities, influencing the environment around them to bring about better understanding and improved opportunities. 

They deliver training to businesses, schools, health care professionals and prisons, helping people to increase their understanding of how to work with people with learning difficulties.

Their understanding of local community needs also helps them to generate income.  West Track Studios, for example, is run by the Group - a purpose-built recording, rehearsal and multimedia facility in Canterbury.  The studio has been designed with disability access in mind, but it is open to all as a valuable community resource.

This combination of economic, social and environmental focus has a far reaching impact.  The Skillnet Group has created financial sustainability through a keen business awareness that in turn gives them the stability to nurture creativity and confidence in the people they support.  This results in demonstrable, positive change which supports their efforts to influence the world around them. 

Around 30% of the Skillnet Group’s workforce has learning difficulties, compared to 2% of the national population.  This is living proof of what can be achieved when personal and professional development are supported by a person-centred approach and provides inspiration for others at a different point of their journey.

As summarised by Steven, “We are letting people know about their rights to work.”  And for many at Skillnet, the right to work has come from their own resourceful creativity, cultivating their dreams, seeing possibilities and working steadily towards their achievement.   

www.skillnetgroup.co.uk

A Skillnet Group training session