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Having a laugh in a Handcrafted kitchen

Support

We believe that the first steps to breaking out of tough times, building confidence, and starting afresh is having a supportive community and a stable home.

We help people make the most of their time and talents. From joining Handcrafted’s workshops to getting out into the wider community, we believe in the power of connecting people with meaningful activities and new opportunities — not just keeping busy but finding purpose and belonging.

We’re here to make sure housing becomes a genuine foundation for growth. Home visits, practical help with tasks like paperwork or assistance accessing the right services are all in a day’s work for our support team.

People chatting in a Handcrafted support group

Our support workers are trained in trauma-informed approaches and focus on person-centered planning that’s tailored to individual needs. During regular (at least weekly) contact, we offer one-to-one chats, advocacy, and practical support to help people move forward at their own pace.

We recognise that people are the experts of their own lives and as such, our commitment to empowerment means that we don’t race ahead or push from behind but instead that we’re here to walk alongside individuals as they build their own resilience and forge their own future.

Image depicting someone helping another person up a mountain

Testimonials

Changing Lives have been working in partnership with Handcrafted for some time, and have seen the improvements that they have made to the service since they first began. We see Handcrafted as a valuable partner, providing effective support to our residents, most of whom are socially excluded and have been given up on by other services.

Handcrafted provides a safe environment for residents, so that they can explore new skills, gain confidence and improve self-esteem. This has been demonstrated on a number of occasions, when residents have been given the support specific to their needs, staff have shown patience and understanding in dealing with individuals who can be very challenging.

We work very closely with Handcrafted and have formed a unique working partnership together, we have seen a massive difference in the confidence that our residents have when they have engaged in this service, and that is due to the staff at Handcrafted going the extra mile, to make a difference to our residents, showing empathy and understanding and without judgement.

Long may this continue…

Margaret M, Service Lead, Changing Lives