On his last day working at the Booth Centre Dane, a Social Work student, reflects on his time here. I first came to the Booth Centre in October 2020 on a 70-day placement as part of the second year of my Social Work degree. Before deciding to go back to university, my background was in sales; an industry that I kind of 'fell into' but never really felt right for me. When I left my last sales role, I got a job working with adults with complex mental health diagnoses to live independently. It was this that inspired me to go down the pathway of Social Work with adults, and a desire to support people who are marginalised by our society and the system(s) that we live under. When my 70-day placement came to an end I was then very lucky to be taken on to work both part-time (while studying) and full time over the summer. My final year means that I need to do a 100-day placement at a different kind of service, which is sadly why my time at the Booth Centre is coming to an end. I do genuinely wish I could stay. I’d been involved in campaigning before I came to the Booth Centre, so, felt like I had a relatively good understanding of the homeless situation, particularly in Manchester. However, when I started the placement, I soon realised that my understanding was only the very tip of the iceberg of the homeless/housing crisis in the UK. On my first day, I saw people who had been street homeless for a number of years alongside people who were in employment but whose wages were not enough to cover stable accommodation; people who were from Manchester to people who had recently arrived and were struggling to navigate the immigration system. This is what first impressed me about the Centre, the diversity of people and situations that it was able to encourage and respond to. Working alongside the diverse range of people who visit the Centre has probably been what I have enjoyed most during my time here. It may sound cliched, but you genuinely don't know what each new day will bring; though what you do know, is that the Booth Centre will go some way towards bringing about positive change in people's lives. Working at the Booth Centre has also challenged my view of certain things. Prior to coming here, I had never experienced (and so properly valued) the importance of an activities-based setting. Previously, I may have been a bit sceptical about how doing an activity, such as art or gardening, could benefit someone with numerous support needs. I realise now how misguided this was. Seeing the people who access the Centre not just receive the support for their needs on an individual basis, but also gain confidence, improved self-esteem, new skills (and much more!) in a relaxed social setting, is extremely impressive, and quickly made me understand the vital role that working together on activities can play.
It would be impossible for me to write about the Booth Centre and not mention the staff here, who are all amazing! - as soon as I arrived here, I felt a part of something, and have felt supported by all of my colleagues from day one. The broad range of expertise across the team is, for me, what makes it possible for the Centre to be able to work with such a diverse range of people and situations. It can sometimes seem a glib cliche to refer to a staff team or a workplace as a family, but from what I have experienced here at the Booth Centre that may not be far off. Something that highlights this for me was after a particularly challenging morning in the Centre, which put quite a lot of strain on the team, seeing how everyone rallied around to support each other will stay with me. I am certain I have made some friends that I will keep in touch with, and I can only thank each person on the team for the support that they have given me over the last ten months. To any students who are coming to do their placement here, I would say that you'll go a long way to find a better placement. You will be confronted with a rich range of opportunities to learn, on an almost daily basis. There is much formal learning you'll get the chance to do; from advice around benefits to housing policies; to immigration and mental health. The best thing though is to just be able to work alongside such a diverse group of people and learning about their unique lives and experiences. To say I will miss the Booth Centre is an understatement! I am excited about my next challenge, but I am also hopeful that someday I will be back to play a part in this incredible service. Dane Yates, Project Worker
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![]() Callum's story is one of a short series of case studies about people who have recently come to the Booth Centre for support. "I really hate being bored; I love to spend my time keeping busy. A few months ago I ended up sleeping rough again, but managed to get accommodation in a dry hostel. I get a great sense of achievement doing activities at the Booth Centre and have joined the Art, Drama and Streetwise Opera groups. I also put myself forward to volunteer as Streetwise Ambassador. I helped out a local theatre group at the Contact theatre to give them ideas of what to put in their play, and I will be going to see the play itself in a few week’s time. Coming to the activities gets me out of my room, stops me feeling isolated and prevents me getting annoyed at my situation at the hostel, as I'm still waiting to get my own place. I like being independent. However, I can find that when I leave the centre and go home I can get bored easily again. I really love baking and have been getting more and more creative with my cakes recently. I have started baking in my hostel and bringing the results into Drama and Streetwise Opera sessions. I love seeing other people enjoy my creations; it helps my self-esteem and I like to help other people. What I really like to do is take a classic recipe and put my own twist on it; like Battenberg with icing instead of Marzipan, or sponge cake with bananas, jam and coconut on top. I get people to taste my recipes and get feedback to make them even better. I feel it helps me work towards more independence, helps me move forward. In future I would like to offer to help do some baking groups at the Booth Centre if they can fit me into the timetable!" Update: We've agreed that as soon as Callum moves into his own bedsit we'll buy him some proper baking equipment. Thank you to all the people that have given permission for us to share their stories. Names and some details have been changed to protect anonymity. ![]() Neil's story is the second in a short series of case studies about people who have recently come to the Booth Centre for support. "I started coming to the Centre as I needed something to eat and drink. I became homeless after I sold my house. While I still had some money from it I was fine, but when it ran out I had nowhere to go. I didn’t have a GP or benefits and I was just walking the streets. It took me a while to get used to coming to the Centre but they began to ask me what help I needed and suggested how I could get some accommodation. I am now registered with a local doctor, am receiving benefits and have somewhere to live, as well as being in touch with a mental health worker. I feel healthier and the activities provided at the Centre have rekindled my interest in the arts. I am doing more things for enjoyment, and the other people who come to the Centre are nice. I am doing a number of courses at the Centre but what I would particularly like to do is to learn the guitar. I am quite keen to go and do courses at other places. Ultimately I would like to live overseas one day. My short term goal is to buy a guitar, as my music is really important to me. At the moment the most urgent thing would be to buy a CD player and radio. My flat is really quiet and empty." Update: We bought Neil a CD/radio and Matt has given him some CDs. We are currently looking to provide a guitar for Neil in time for the start of the beginners guitar class at Back On Track, an Adult Education Centre on Swan Street. Thank you to all the people that have given permission for us to share their stories. Names and some details have been changed to protect anonymity. ![]() Richard's story is the first in a short series of case studies about people who have recently come to the Booth Centre for support. "I lost my flat because I started getting into difficulty and didn't ask for help in time. I ended up sofa-surfing for a number of weeks. I came to the Booth Centre because I knew they wouldn't judge me. I have formed friendships through the drop-ins and activities here. I really enjoy helping other people who are in a similar situation, or who are struggling more than I am. I can often give other people advice because I've been there too. I like keeping busy and having something to do with my day. I am busy job searching at the moment and making the room in my hostel more homely. The bedding I have has cigarette burns in it and the pillows are flat, and although everything is clean it would make a difference to get some decent bedding. I suffer from insomnia quite a bit and I think it would help with that. It would also be something that I could take with me when I move into my own place. Previously I've worked in the catering industry and the Booth Centre has helped me develop my skills in cooking, which is a real passion of mine. It would be great to help run the cookery classes at the Centre at some point. It can be hard to cook hearty meals for myself and friends without quality pots and pans though, and I'm keen to keep up my cooking skills for when I get back to work in the future. I am a very organised person and I like structure and boundaries when I'm working, but coming to the Booth Centre and doing activities like the art class are great because I feel like there are no right or wrong answers, and I can just get creative, express myself and have a laugh." Update: We bought Richard new bedding, as well as some pots and pans. Richard is currently on a work placement with Business in the Community and we are now helping him to apply for his own flat. Thank you to all the people that have given permission for us to share their stories. Names and some details have been changed to protect anonymity. |
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