​
Kickstart
What is Kickstart?
“KICKSTART”, which we set up in 2016, is Tang Hall Smart’s intensive support programme for people
who have experienced homelessness and who want to work, even if this seems far away in the
future. If you are someone who has experienced homelessness and has a goal of getting some work
at some point, even if you aren’t quite ready to think about this fully right now, we would love to
hear from you.
Stage 1. Contact us, either yourself or via a support worker. Text Sue on 07725997342 and she will
arrange a time where she, or one of our friendly team can meet you at a café in town or in the
Burnholme Café. When we meet up, this is a chance for us to find out a bit about you and to also tell
you about what we can offer. To start with this can just be a regular meeting or perhaps one
music/art/workshop session per week.
Stage 2. The next stage is building up a more regular participation at one of our two weekly group
sessions. These take place on Thursday and Friday afternoon in our rooms at the Burnholme Centre
and focus on engagement, enjoyment, sociability, and some skill building in any of the following:
music, lyric writing, art, workshop-skills.
Stage 3. After a few months of regular attendance, we can offer a fuller programme of up to 10
hours. This varies from person to person but can include job coaching, mentoring, a voluntary work
placement, and even studying for a level 3 art/music-industry qualification.
Stage 4. Our new charity, Tang Hall EMPLOYMENT, offers paid supported work either with Tang Hall
SMART or another employer whilst people make the transition into employment. This is currently
being piloted with people who have graduated from Stage 3 of our Kickstart course.
'It is hard to sum up how much the support given at Kickstart has helped me to grow as a person. The ability and support of the staff to help me express myself artistically has changed my life'