Floating Support Project
S.T.E.P. Floating Support project is a free service funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive "Supporting People" programme. The floating support service aims to prevent tenancy breakdown and ultimately homelessness. Some of the support we provide includes:
- Advice on housing rights and responsibilities
- Information on basic home security, maintenance and dealing with emergencies
- Money management and advice - budgeting, paying bills, rent and debt
- Welfare rights advice
- Support with benefits claims
- Assistance with understanding and filling in forms, and,
- Support in developing daily living skills
- Information and guidance to employment rights.
Support lasts as long as is required. However, the aim of the service is to help individuals until such time that they develop the confidence and skills to live independently and without support. For further information on this service, or if you would like a referral form please contact Edel or Margaret at S.T.E.P.
Floating support eligibility criteria:
You or your partner must:
Be 18 years and over,
Be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,
Have additonal housing support needs,
Live within the Cookstown, Dungannon or Portadown Northern Ireland Housing Executive District Office areas.
In relation to persons from abroad, individuals have to meet the 'Habitual Residence' test in that they have the right to reside in the UK.
Referrals are accepted from the Social Services, the NIHE, the Probation Board (NI) and other voluntary agencies and from service users.
Please note that all referrals to STEP Floating Support Service are assessed on individual merit.
DebtActionNI
This is a new service offering free advice on debt management and money matters. The project has been funded by DETI, is an AdviceNI initiative and will be delivered by various community organisations across NI - STEP will be responsible in the DUngannon/Cookstown. For mroe information or to book an appointment - please contact Cathy on 028 877 50211.
RCN Research
S.T.E.P. was involved in carrying out SPAN (Strategic Planning Action Network) research through: Vox pox, focus groups and the final meeting of local, migrant and statutory agencies representatives.
The link to the project: http://www.ruralcommunitynetwork.org/spanresearchers.htm
Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA) Training
Training for trainers- S.T.E.P., together with NICMA (Northern ireland Childminding Association), have trained the bilingual trainers to be able to provide Childcare training to Lithuanian and Polish speakers.
Childcare is a big issue not only in South Tyrone area but in all of Northern Ireland. People are struggling to find registered childminders for their children not to mention the migrant worker population where there are virtually no registered childminders who are speakers of other languages. Providing the training in the first language will not only promote and encourage more people to work from home as childminders, but also will improve the childcare services in the area.
Children and Young people services planning – Together 4 All project
More information: http://www.southernareacsp.n-i.nhs.uk/minority%20ethnic%20childen.htm
Anti-racism training
Dungannon Council, S.T.E.P., RCN and Costa are working together to design and to deliver the two-day training for the local communities on diversity, social inclusion and anti-racism awareness. More details to follow.