About the programme

Goodlives provides a safe environment for individuals to engage in practical workshop settings, supporting those returning to the labour market or taking their first steps towards employment.

Programmes include woodcraft and craft activities, skill scanning to identify transferable skills, and support with overcoming barriers to work. Clients receive a minimum of eight weeks of face-to-face sessions, followed by six months of weekly tracking support, which includes help with job applications, interview preparation, confidence building, volunteering opportunities, and more.

Liam’s Journey

Liam, 34, from Cleator Moor, had been unemployed for a long period due to mental and physical health challenges, including Chronic Kidney Disease, anxiety, and depression. He had become socially isolated and was struggling with low confidence and motivation.

Liam started with the Cooking and Nutrition course, which provided structure and helped him reconnect with others in a supportive group setting. The course helped him break the cycle of isolation and gave him skills to make more positive decisions for himself. Alongside this, Liam successfully completed 12 online courses covering topics such as PPE, Mental Health First Aid, and Dealing with Conflict in the Workplace, which supported his personal development and encouraged him to consider future career options.

As Liam’s confidence grew, he took part in a painting and decorating project for Safety Net’s new premises in Whitehaven. He learned how to prepare surfaces, maintain a clean and safe work area, and apply paint to a high standard. Despite finding the work physically demanding, Liam stayed motivated, worked well as part of a team, and produced an excellent finish. Safety Net were very pleased with the result, praising both the communication and the quality of the work.

Safety Net shared positive feedback about the work, highlighting their satisfaction with the communication and quality of the painting.

Programme Impact

This experience has inspired Liam to continue building his skills and confidence. He is now considering enrolling in a painting and decorating course and potentially an apprenticeship to progress towards employment. Liam shared:

“Working on the painting job made me feel proud of what I achieved. It showed me I can push myself and do something productive – it’s made me want to keep going.”