LifeLine secured our Train to Gain contact in 2006 and were part of the first batch of providers to secure these contracts. As far as we are aware, we are the only Third Sector organisation in London to lead a Train to Gain consortium as the only accountable body, but for us it was a natural progression. Having started as a very small VCS group in 2000, with a growth rate of 2100% to date, we grew significantly between 2004 and 2006 as we moved into formalising our training provision and so moving into a full Train to Gain services was quite a logical step. As an organisation we have always been about supporting the individual. Many of our beneficiaries had been through various entry level training programmes, then vocational training, and then moving into jobs. Train to Gain gives us the opportunity to follow people into employment and beyond. At the same time we have steadily built relationships with employers including the Sector Skills Council and employer networks.
Financial Services Authority Programme
LifeLine was very pleased to be awarded a Financial Services Authority programme. In this FSA programme we are managing a national Financial Capability Training programme aimed at training 20,000 youth workers who work with NEET young people, or young people at risk of being NEET by 2010. The training was initially delivered in two spotlight areas: the homeless charity Centrepoint, and to the London Borough of Southwark. January 2008 saw the inception of the national delivery of this programme. LifeLine is responsible for co-ordinating another three partners who have excellent track records in reaching young people in the NEET group: A4E, Citizens Advice and Fairbridge Training.
Castle Green Children's Centre
LifeLine's flagship children and young people's project is the Castle Green Children's Centre in Dagenham. This is run in a unique Local Authority - VCS partnership, and is the hub of the community. Engaging the whole community through a wide scope of provision from pre-birth to family activities which engage parents to jobshop/JCP drop-ins alongside the day-care provision for children is at the heart of LifeLine's approach. We are delighted to announce that the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham have awarded LifeLine all four further phase 3 Children's Centres due to open in the Borough. The first three will open during the latter half of 2008, whilst the fourth will open after it has been built in 2010.
Strategic partners for the Cabinet Office of the Third Sector
At national level LifeLine is a strategic partner for the Cabinet office of the Third Sector and have set up FaithAction, a network of over 13,000 Voluntary and Community Groups across the country. This strategic partnership has given us a unique access to a large network of grassroots groups, many of whom are primarily family support organisations poised for public service delivery. Through the network 9 Regional Hubs have been established, one in every English region. From these hubs we work with local VCS groups to facilitate effective partnerships, promote engagement in local strategies and increase the capacity of grass-roots groups in relation to the delivery of public services. We are also a pan-London Change Up Improving Reach Capacity Building provider.
